Feb 20, 2022: According to a report by Reuters, a Chinese navy vessel directed a laser at an Australian military aircraft in flight over Australia’s northern approaches, illuminating the plane and potentially endangering lives, Australia’s defence said on Saturday.
A P-8A Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft, detected a laser emanating from a People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) vessel, the Defence Department said in a statement.
“Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident,” the department said. “Acts like this have the potential to endanger lives. We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct.”
At the time of the incident, the Chinese ship was heading east along the Arafura Sea with another PLA-N ship, the department said. It is located between the North Coast of Australia and the South Coast of New Guinea. The Department of Defense said the two ships have since crossed the Torres Strait and were in the Coral Sea.
In 2019, Chinese maritime militia vessels initiated a series of laser attacks on Australian pilots while flying over the South China Sea, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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