Laser attack on state machine: Australia admits to naval harassment of China

laser attack on the state machine
Australia alleges China’s naval harassment

02/20/2022 11:56 am

Two Chinese Navy ships last week sailed off the north coast of Australia. When a surveillance aircraft patrols the area, they apparently take a government laser pointer and aim it at the cockpit. The Australian government is outraged.

According to the Australian government, a Chinese naval ship has pointed a laser at an Australian surveillance aircraft, “endangering lives”. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke of “intimidation” that was “unfounded and without reason”. Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton accused the People’s Republic of “aggressive harassment” that put the health of the flight crew at risk.

According to him, the incident happened last Thursday off the coast of northern Australia. Dutton in Canberra said that in the Arafura Sea, two Chinese Navy ships were operating. One of them pointed a laser at an Australian military surveillance plane. A ten-member team was on board.

The Australian Department of Defense published a Explanation and many photos from the incident. It shows two ships of the Chinese Navy and the course taken by them over the past few days. Accordingly, they were recorded south of the Indonesian island of Java on 11 February. Six days later the laser incident occurred in the Arafura Sea. They then continued their way east and entered the Coral Sea through the Torres Strait.

“I think the Chinese government hopes that nobody talks about this kind of harassment,” Dutton said on Sky News. “But incidents like this can lead to crew blindness. It’s very invasive, so we have to address it openly.” China did not initially respond to the Australian allegations.