Australia-(Berberanews)-According to the Australian Defense Department, a Chinese navy ship shot a laser at one of its surveillance planes, endangering the crew’s lives.
According to the department, the incident occurred on Thursday when the P-8A Poseidon jet detected a laser illuminating the aircraft while flying over Australia’s northern approaches.
As the US and its allies accuse China of asserting its military might, the US and its allies have taken steps to counter Beijing’s growing clout in the western Pacific and elsewhere.
The laser was fired from a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel, according to the department. It was travelling through the Torres Strait with another Chinese ship. It was reported that both ships were currently in the Coral Sea, east of Australia.
“The Chinese vessel’s illumination of the aircraft is a major safety incident,” the Defense Department warned. “We vehemently oppose unprofessional and dangerous military conduct. The ADF personnel’s safety and life could have been jeopardized as a result of these activities.”
Lasers are a severe hazard because, when directed at aircraft, they can harm or temporarily blind pilots, posing a safety risk, especially during takeoff and landing.
The US also accused China of firing a laser at one of its Poseidon planes over the Pacific two years ago. China denied it, claiming the plane circled its vessel at low altitude despite repeated warnings.
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