Prime Minister Scott Morrison has blasted China for an unprovoked act of “intimidation” when one of their naval ships targeted an Australian aircraft with a laser.
The Australian Defence Force said the aircraft detected the laser from a Chinese vessel on Thursday while it was flying aloxjmtzywng Australia’s northern approaches. .
“I can see no other way that this was an act of intimidation. One that was unprovoked, unwarranted, and Australia will never accept such acts of intimidation,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday.
He said it was “very concerning” and the defence force were keeping a “close watch” on Chinese naval vessels in the region.
“It’s a reckless and irresponsible act and it should not occur … Australia stands up to coercion, bullying and intimidation,” Mr Morrison said.
His comments came after Defence Minister Peter Dutton labelled the actions as “bullying”.
On Sunday morning Mr Dutton said it was important to “shine a light” on this behaviour.
“I think the Chinese government is hoping that nobody talks about these aggressive, bullying acts,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.
He said it was “completely unacceptable” and could have left crew-members blind and damaged equipment.
“It’s a very aggressive act and that’s why it’s right that we call it out,” the Minister said.
The Chinese vessel, in company with another People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) ship, was sailing east through the Arafura Sea, located between Northern Australia and Western New Guinea, at the time of the incident.
The ADF labelled the act as “unprofessional and unsafe” military conduct in a statement.
“Such actions are not in keeping with the standards we expect of professional militaries.”
A laser used on RAAF aircraft close to the Australian mainland is an escalation of tension between the Chinese navy and Australia’s armed forces.
The last time a PLA warship used a military-grade laser against an RAAF aircraft was in a 2019 incident involving a helicopter on exercises in the South China Sea.
Mr Dutton also told Sunrise there had been a lot of aggression in the region under Chinese President Xi Jinping and pointed to the deaths of Indian soldiers at the border.
China had also launched cyber attacks and used economic coercion in the region, which was concerning, along with their close friendship with Russia, Mr Dutton said.
There was also “co-ordination” between Russia and China on the timing of the aggressive acts as an invasion of Ukraine appeared imminent, he said.
“The Chinese wouldn’t have wanted Russia going into Ukraine during the course of the Winter Olympics so that conversation clearly has taken place,” the Minister said.
“I hope that President Putin at the 11th hour can change his direction but at the moment war looks inevitable there and that would be a tragic outcome for the Ukrainians,” Mr Dutton said.
