Australia is demanding that China investigate the alleged use of a laser to “illuminate” an Australian jet in the waters off the country’s north coast in an incident that threatens to worsen relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that he had asked the Chinese government to explain the “dangerous” and “reckless” act allegedly carried out by a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship last week.
“It was dangerous, unprofessional and reckless for a professional Navy, and we want some answers as to why they did it,” Morrison said. “At worst, it was intimidating.”
“They are the ones who need to explain, not just to Australia, but to all the countries in our region,” he added. “It can happen to anyone else who is simply doing surveillance of their own Exclusive Economic Zone.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters that the ship was complying with international law.
“After checking with Chinese authorities, the information released by the Australian side was not true. The normal navigation of the Chinese vessel on the high seas complies with relevant international laws and practices and is completely legitimate and legal,” Wang said.
“We urge the Australian side to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese ships under international law and stop maliciously spreading false information about China.”
Earlier, the state-run Global Times newspaper accused Australia of trying to damage Beijing’s reputation in the South Pacific. “The Australian military knowingly promoted this with the aim of dumping mud on China,” the article said, citing an anonymous analyst.
The paper accused the Australian government of trying to divert attention from the Chinese military’s relief efforts in the South Pacific, citing the recent delivery of supplies to Tonga and the shipment of medical items to the Solomon Islands.
Defensive act or provocative move?
The incident in question reportedly took place last week when an Australian P-8A reconnaissance and warfare aircraft was flying over the Arafura Sea, the body of water between northern Australia and the island of New Guinea.
The Australian Defense Force said in a statement on Saturday that the People’s Liberation Army Navy ship used a laser to “illuminate” the Australian plane.
China did not explicitly deny the action, but said it would be normal for a warship to use a laser rangefinder if an aircraft came close to a vessel.
“Australia did not tell the public how closely its aircraft flew close to Chinese ships, so people could not tell if Chinese ships were forced to take defensive countermeasures,” said Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert.
In the past, pilots targeted by laser attacks have reported disorienting flashes, pain, twitching, blurring of vision and even temporary blindness.
“During critical phases of flight, when the pilot does not have enough time to recover, the consequences of laser exposure can be tragic,” according to a US Federal Aviation Administration document.
Peter Layton, a former Australian Air Force officer and analyst at the Griffith Asia Institute, ruled out the possibility that the incident was inadvertent.
“The Chinese Navy is highly disciplined, with a number of Communist Party political officers on board to advise the captain and ensure he acts in accordance with the Party’s guidance. That means it’s not an accident, but it’s a purposeful act, authorized by the highest levels,” Layton said.
The ship that allegedly aimed the laser at the Australian jet was one of two warships sailing east across the Arafura Sea, the Australian military said.
The incident is not the first report of Chinese vessels pointing lasers at Australian aircraft. In May 2019, Australian pilots said they were repeatedly targeted by commercial lasers during missions in the South China Sea.
And in a June 2018 report, US military officials told CNN that there have been at least 20 suspected Chinese laser incidents in the eastern Pacific from September 2017 to June 2018.
Military tensions between China and Australia escalated in November when Canberra said it was entering a pact with the United States and the United Kingdom to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
On the day the deal was announced, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijan said that Australia should “seriously consider whether to view China as a partner or a threat.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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