Australia condemns China for 'act of intimidation' after laser aimed at aircraft

China and Australia traded barbs after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned Chinese PLA navy for an ‘Act of Intimidation’ as it shone laser at Australian P-8A Poseidon surveillance plane and demanded an explanation from Beijing over the “dangerous, unprofessional and reckless” incident. 

China’s national defense ministry on Monday accused the Australian defense force of “spiteful and provocative actions” as it brushed off the accusation that its warship had shone a laser at an Australian surveillance plane. 

Without giving any details about the use of the laser, the statement said the PLA-N vessel “maintained safe, normative and professional operations” and accused the Australian side of spreading “false information” and making an “irresponsible claim”. The Australian aircraft had been tracking two PLA-N vessels that were sailing east



through the Arafura Sea, north of Australia on Thursday.

According to reports, Australia responded to the Chinese statement by saying there was much greater distance between the plane and the warship at the time the laser was used. Australian Defence spokesperson said, “At the time of the lasing incident the RAAF P-8A Poseidon was approximately 7,700m from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) vessel and was flying at an altitude of 457m.” “This is a standard flight profile for Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft for a visual inspection of a surface vessel,” the spokesperson said. 

The Australian Prime Minister said the use of the laser was “extremely disappointing” and required a full explanation from Beijing, “not for it to be dismissed or shunted off or some of the usual responses that we get”.