CHINA ACCUSES ADF OF ‘THROWING MUD’ OVER LASER ACCUSATIONS
A PLA-N Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock vessel transits through the Torres Strait on 18 February 2022. (ADF)
China has accused Australia of “throwing mud” at the nation for failing to disclose key details regarding the laser that illuminated a RAAF P-8A Poseidon.
Chinese military professional Song Zhongping told The Global Times on Monday that the incident was almost certainly the fault of the Australian patrol aircraft because it conducted a close-in reconnaissance on the warships.
The “serious safety incident” occurred at 12:35 am on 17 February and was detected while the RAAF Poseidon was flying over Australia’s north.
It was directed from People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) vessels – China’s national armed forces – including the Type 052D destroyer Hefei and the Type 071 amphibious landing ship the Jinggangshan.
“Australia failed to tell the public how close its aircraft flew near the Chinese vessels, so people could not tell if the Chinese vessels were forced to take defensive countermeasures,” Song said.
While the source was not named, an analyst close to the PLA told the Chinese publication most modern warships are equipped with rangefinders which measure distances between objects.
“They are also used for civilian purposes and are of little danger, the anonymous analyst said, noting that the Australian military knowingly hyped this with the aim of throwing mud at China,” the Global Times said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the act amid rising tensions with China, saying he “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.”
Fears over the laser shining towards a RAAF aircraft stemmed from the vessel’s proximity to Australia’s coast, specifically inside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The EEZ is an area of sea beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, and a certain state will have sovereignty over the zone regarding maritime use and exploration. Australia’s EEZ extends from 12 to 200 nautical miles from the coastline of Australia.
Travelling this close meant the laser had capabilities of taking out the aircraft’s sensors, according to ABC defence correspondent Andrew Greene.
But Chinese officials said it “only exposes the Australian aircraft’s unsafe, provocative close-in reconnaissance on the Chinese ships in the first place”.
In the past weeks, China has sent out large sums of food, water and tents as aid for residents in Tonga due to the volcano eruption that occurred in January via air force aircraft and ships.
Analysts told the publication Australia does not like China providing humanitarian aid to other nations and will find ways to “discredit” the country.
Regarding the accusations by the Chinese government that the RAAF aircraft was flying too low and therefore was seen as a risk for shipping, well – the RAAF aircraft was conducting surveillance over Australian waters. Of course the aircraft would be flying at low level. For more than 40 years, the RAAF have conducted surveillance flights all around the coastline and in particular over the northern coast line. The Chinese Navy Ship is the one who was sailing in Australian territory.
What would the reaction have been if it was reversed, and one of our ships was off one of those Chinese man made islands? I don’t think that the crew would have got an invitation to a BBQ.