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Australia won’t stand for ‘acts of intimidation’, Morrison says after China navy laser incident
- A P-8A Poseidon patrol plane earlier this week detected a laser from a Chinese naval ship sailing east through the Arafura Sea
- Australia is raising the issue directly with China through diplomatic and defence channels, Morrison says
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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison branded a Chinese navy vessel pointing a laser at one of his nation’s surveillance aircraft off the northern coast an “act of intimidation”.
The incident occurred three days ago when a P-8A Poseidon patrol plane detected a laser from a Chinese naval ship sailing east through the Arafura Sea, Australia’s department of defence said in a statement late on Saturday. Morrison responded early on Sunday in televised comments in Melbourne.
“I’m very concerned about the actions of using the lasers,” he said. “That is, I can see it no other way than an act of intimidation, one that was unprovoked, unwarranted and Australia will never accept such acts of intimidation.”
Ties between Australia and China have deteriorated in recent years over issues ranging from investment to alleged foreign interference in domestic politics.
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They plunged in 2020 when Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19, infuriating Beijing. It responded with punitive trade actions targeting Australian commodities from coal to barley, lobsters and wine.
Morrison said Australia was raising the laser issue directly with China through diplomatic and defence channels. “It was a reckless and irresponsible act and it should not occur,” he said.
Defense Minister Peter Dutton said the incident was an example of “aggressive bullying” by China’s military.
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