Chinese Navy Ship Aims Laser at Australian Military Plane, Morrison Rises

MELBOURNE – Prime Minister Australia Scott Morrison accuses Beijing of ‘act of intimidation’ after a naval ship China aimed a laser at an Australian military reconnaissance plane last week.

The Australian Department of Defense said a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was laser-targeted on Thursday as it flew over Australia’s northern approach by a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) vessel, potentially life-threatening.

Morrison said his government would demand answers from Beijing.

“I can’t see anything other than an act of intimidation, one (…) unwarranted, unwarranted,” Morrison said.

“And Australia will never accept such an act of intimidation,” he said Channel News AsiaSunday (20/2/2022).

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton called the incident a “very aggressive act” that took place in Australia’s exclusive economic zone.

“I think the Chinese government hopes that nobody talks about this act of aggressive intimidation,” Dutton told Sky News television.

Also read: Chinese Navy Ship Aims Laser at Australian Military Aircraft

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