Canberra / Beijing – A Chinese warship launched a laser attack on a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft patrolling the Arafura Sea to the north of Australia. Australia’s Department of Defence has made the accusation and warned that the attack was a grave incident for security. This is the second incident in the last three years that China has launched a laser attack on Australia. Earlier in May 2019, China launched a laser attack on an Australian helicopter flying over the South China Sea.  

On Thursday, two Chinese warships were sailing across the Arafura Sea region to the north of Australia. An Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft patrolling the area noticed their movements. Around midnight, one of the warships amongst Chinese warships launched a laser attack on an Australian surveillance aircraft. The attack has been claimed to have hampered the surveillance aircraft’s operation. Australia’s Defence Department has revealed the information about the incident and has strongly protested China’s action.  

‘Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident. Acts like this have the potential to endanger lives. We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct. These actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the ADF personnel. Such actions are not in keeping with the standards we expect of professional militaries,’ the Australian Defence Department has lashed out at China. There are no comments from China as yet on the incident.  

Relations between Australia and China have become tense in the past few years, with a new incident of laser strikes is likely to escalate more tensions between the two countries. China repeatedly threatens Australia that has adopted an aggressive policy against China over the South China Sea alongside the Taiwan issue. China also warned that Australia could become a target for Chinese missiles if it sided with Taiwan.  

China has begun to use sophisticated weapons on its rival countries, regardless of international regulations. International media claims that the laser attack on Australian surveillance aircraft is another example of China’s aggression. China had previously launched laser strikes on US aircraft flying over the East China Sea and near Djibouti in North Africa.  

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