According to U.S. Navy a Chinese Navy warship fired a military-grade laser at US Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean, an action that the US Navy called “unsafe and unprofessional.”
The People’s Republic of China “navy destroyer’s actions were unsafe and unprofessional,” US Pacific Fleet said in a statement Thursday.
“Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems,” the statement added.
According to U.S. Defense officials formal diplomatic protests known as a démarche are expected to be issued.
People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyer lased a #USNavy P-8A Poseidon aircraft in an unsafe, unprofessional manner. The incident took place Feb. 17 in the airspace above international waters 380 miles west of Guam. #FreeandOpenIndoPacific
Read More: https://t.co/ogOCT9f9h3 pic.twitter.com/II5NaicQAw
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) February 28, 2020
Military-grade laser beams, occasionally known as “dazzlers,” omit a powerful beam of light that can travel great distances and be used to illuminate aircraft cockpits, temporarily blinding pilots.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Chinese militaries.
The Pentagon has repeatedly said that China represents an increasingly serious threat to regional security, saying that major Chinese investments in its military are aimed at achieving regional dominance.
The incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Chinese militaries.
The Pentagon has repeatedly said that China represents an increasingly serious threat to regional security, saying that major Chinese investments in its military are aimed at achieving regional dominance.
