Chinese warships turn LASERS on Australian aircraft as tensions escalate over the Timor Sea and defence chiefs blast China’s ‘unsafe military conduct’
- Chinese Navy vessels pointed lasers at Australian defence force aircraft
- The plane was flying over the Timor Sea at the time of Thursday incident
- Australian defence chiefs branded the action as ‘unsafe military conduct’
The Australian Defence Department has strongly condemned ‘unsafe military conduct’ after an incident involving a defence force aircraft and a Chinese vessel.
The lives of Australian Defence Force personnel could have been in danger after an aircraft detected a laser coming from a Chinese ship, the Australian Defence Department says.
On Thursday February 17, the P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft while in flight over Australia’s northern approaches, Defence says.
On Thursday February 17, the P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft from this boat pictured while in flight over Australia’s northern approaches, Defence says.
The vessel was in the company of another Chinese ship and sailing east through the Arafura Sea at the time of the incident. Pictured is the defence department’s trace of their movements
The laser was detected coming from a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel, a statement on Saturday said.
‘Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident,’ it says.
‘We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct.
‘These actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the ADF personnel.’
The vessel was in the company of another Chinese ship and sailing east through the Arafura Sea at the time of the incident.
Both ships have since passed through the Torres Strait and are in the Coral Sea.
The laser was detected coming from a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel (pictured), a statement on Saturday said
Both ships (pictured ) have since passed through the Torres Strait and are in the Coral Sea
Advertisement
