Chinese navy ship fires laser at RAAF aircraft
The Daily TelegraphToday.
A Chinese navy ship fired a military-grade laser at a RAAF aircraft in a move slammed as “unprofessional and unsafe” by the Australian Defence Force.
Australia has reacted with fury after a Chinese warship fired a military-grade laser at an RAAF aircraft that was monitoring it as it passed Northern Australia.
In the early hours of Thursday morning an RAAF P-8A Poseidon, monitoring a Chinese destroyer and an amphibious transport dock vessel as they sailed through the Arafura Sea, was hit by a military-grade laser.
Laser attacks on aircraft can injure pilots and affect an aircraft’s systems, and are considered highly dangerous and provocative.
The incident, which occurred in international waters but inside Australia’s exclusive economic zone and within sight of the mainland north of the Gulf of Carpentaria, is being viewed as a major escalation of Chinese aggression in the region.
In a statement, the Australian Defence Force said the act had the potential to endanger lives.
“We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct,” it said.
“These actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the ADF personnel.
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Preparing for the invasion?