Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called on an investigation into an incident he called an "act of intimidation" by the Chinese. Morrison's statement came after news broke out that a Chinese Navy ship had reportedly targeted a laser at an Australian aircraft late last week.
The nation's defense department said a Chinese Navy ship pointed a targeting laser at an Australian P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft while it was flying over the nation's northern waters. Officials said the act "potentially endangered lives."
At the time of the incident, a Chinese guided-missile destroyer and an amphibious transport dock were traveling east across the Arafura Sea between New Guinea and Australia, passing via the tight Torres Strait.
Morrison said the Australian government would be formally demanding an explanation from China, adding that Australia would not tolerate such acts against it. He said Australia would work to get answers through its diplomatic and defense channels.
Morrison attempted to explain the seriousness of the situation by hypothetically turning the tables around and imagining what if Australia was the one that pointed lasers at a Chinese aircraft. He asked the public what China's reaction would be in such a situation and if it happened in the Taiwan Strait or within Chinese territory.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the act of pointing a targeting laser at one of the nation's aircraft is a sign of aggression, given that it took place within the country's exclusive economic zone. Dutton said China's "aggressive bullying acts" in Australia and other regions would not be tolerated.
As of Monday, Australia has not yet received any response from China explaining its Navy's actions, which has been considered by officials as a "dangerous and reckless" act of aggression. The Chinese embassy and the Chinese government have yet to publicly address the incident.
Tensions between Australia and China escalated after the former heeded the warnings of the U.S. and other western countries in boycotting the use of Chinese telecommunications products. In 2018, Australia announced that it would ban Chinese-made telecommunications equipment, including those supplied by Huawei Technologies, from its nationwide 5G broadband rollout. Relations soured further after Australia tightened its laws against foreign political interference and sided with the U.S. in calling for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
The two nations have imposed tit-for-tat economic sanctions against each other over the past months. Australia's relationship with China, its top trading partners, has significantly deteriorated since then, following disagreements on other issues, including Taiwan.
