{"id":47620,"date":"2022-02-21T13:39:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T13:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/?p=47620"},"modified":"2022-02-21T13:39:19","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T13:39:19","slug":"australia-accuses-china-of-shining-laser-at-surveillance-plane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qatar-news.org\/qatarnewsEn\/?p=47620","title":{"rendered":"Australia accuses China of shining laser at surveillance plane"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Australian defence department said the incident was an act of aggression that had the potential to endanger lives.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Australia\u2019s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has accused China of shining a laser at one of its surveillance planes, referring to the incident as an \u201cact of intimidation\u201d.<\/p>\n

Morrison told media on Monday that his government had not received an explanation from China over the incident that took place on February 17, which Australia considered \u201cdangerous and reckless\u201d.<\/p>\n

He called for a full investigation from China.<\/p>\n

The Australian defence department said the laser, originating from a Chinese naval vessel, had \u201cthe potential to endanger lives\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the Chinese government is hoping that nobody talks about these aggressive bullying acts,\u201d Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton said on Sunday, calling the incident \u201cvery aggressive\u201d.<\/p>\n

Beijing dismissed the allegations as \u201cnot true\u201d and defended the Chinese ship\u2019s movements as \u201cnormal navigation \u2026 in line with relevant international law\u201d.<\/p>\n

A spokesman for China\u2019s defence ministry also claimed an Australian P-8 patrol aircraft had come within 4km (2.5 miles) of the vessel and engaged in \u201cmalicious provocations\u201d that \u201cposed a threat\u201d to safety.<\/p>\n