The US Navy has said that a Chinese military warship fired a military grade laser at one of its surveillance aircraft last week while flying over the Pacific Ocean.
According to the US Navy, its P-war8 surveillance aircraft was fired upon with a military grade laser by a Chinese warship while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean. The Navy called the action "unsafe and unprofessional."
In a statement, the US Pacific Fleet said the Chinese "navy destroyer's actions were unsafe and unprofessional." It pointed out: "Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems."
Military-grade laser beams, also called "dazzlers," emit a powerful beam of light that can reach great distances and be used to illuminate aircraft cockpits to temporarily blind pilots. US defense officials have expressed plans to issue a formal diplomatic protest known as a démarche.
The incident happened amidst ongoing tensions between the US and Chinese armed forces. The US Department of Defense has continually emphasized that China is a serious threat to regional security, arguing that major Chinese investments in its military are aimed at achieving regional dominance.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said: "Over time, we have watched them seize and militarize islands in the South China Sea, and rapidly modernize their armed forces, while seeking to use emerging technologies to alter the landscape of power and reshape the world in their favor ... and often at the expense of others."
In the past, the US has issued similar diplomatic protests for Chinese military forces using lasers against US aircraft.
In 2018, an incident occurred in the East African nation of Djibouti where both the US and China maintain military bases. According to US officials, Chinese forces stationed in Djibouti injured US pilots with a laser that was fired at a US C-130J aircraft.
