Australia is calling on China to investigate the alleged use of a laser to "illuminate" an Australian jet in waters off its northern coast. This incident threatens to worsen relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday he has asked the Chinese government to explain the "dangerous" and "reckless" act allegedly carried out last week by a People's Liberation Army warship (PLAN).
"This was dangerous, unprofessional and reckless for a professional navy, and we want answers as to why they did this," Morrison said. "At worst, it was intimidation and harassment."
"They are the ones who have to explain themselves, not just to Australia, but to all the countries in our region," he added. "It could happen to anyone else who is just doing normal monitoring of their own exclusive economic zone."
Morrison said Monday that Chinese authorities have not yet responded to his request for answers.
At a regular briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters the ship was complying with international law.
"After consulting with the relevant Chinese authorities, the information published by the Australian side is not accurate," he said. The Chinese vessel's normal navigation on the high seas is in accordance with relevant international laws and practices and is fully legitimate and lawful," Wang said.
"We call on the Australian side to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese vessels in relevant waters in accordance with international law and stop maliciously spreading false information about China."
Earlier, the state-run tabloid Global Times accused Canberra of trying to damage Beijing's reputation in the South Pacific.
"The Australian military has deliberately played up the issue to throw mud at China," the article said, citing an anonymous analyst.
The newspaper accused Canberra of trying to divert attention from the Chinese military's aid efforts in the South Pacific, citing the recent delivery of aid to Tonga after a major volcanic eruption and tsunami, as well as the shipment of medical supplies from Covid to the Solomon Islands.
"Australia does not like to see China providing tangible aid to other countries close to Australia and is therefore trying to discredit China by any means possible," the report said, citing unnamed analysts.
Is this a defensive act or a provocation?
The incident in question reportedly occurred last week when an Australian P-8A aircraft, a reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, flew over the Arafura Sea, the body of water between Australia's Northern Territory and the island of New Guinea to the north.
The Australian Defense Force said Saturday that the People's Liberation Army ship (PLAN) used a laser to "illuminate" the Australian aircraft.
In the Global Times report, China did not specifically deny that a laser was aimed at the Australian plane, but said it was normal for a warship to use a laser range finder when an aircraft got too close to a ship.
"Australia failed to tell the public how close its planes flew to the Chinese ships, so it was impossible to tell whether the Chinese ships were forced to take defensive countermeasures," according to the Global Times, which attributed the statement to Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and commentator for TV.
In the past, pilots affected by laser strikes have reported disorienting flashes, pain, spasms and spots in their vision, and even temporary blindness.
"During critical phases of flight when the pilot does not have sufficient time to recover, the consequences of laser exposure could be tragic," according to a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration document.
The use of a laser rangefinder on an aircraft could be considered provocative because it shows that the warfighter is trying to find a solution to the aircraft's fire control without using the ship's own fire control radar, said Carl Schuster, a former U.S. Navy captain.
He said it is possible that inexperienced operators on the Chinese ship tried to aim the laser at parts of the aircraft other than the cockpit and failed.
However, Peter Layton, a former Australian Air Force officer and analyst at the Griffith Asia Institute, ruled out the possibility that the incident was unintentional.
"The PLA navy is a very disciplined navy and there will be several Communist Party political officers on board advising the captain and making sure he is acting in accordance with party directives," he said. This means that it is not an accident, but a deliberate act approved at the highest level," Layton said.
The ship that allegedly pointed the laser at the Australian jet was one of two PLAN warships heading east in the Arafura Sea at the time, according to the Australian military.
The Australian military released photos of two Chinese ships, which, according to their hull numbers, are the guided-missile destroyer Hefei and the amphibious transport dock Jinggang Shan.