Jun 22, 2018
US has accused China for targeting its military pilots with lasers. According to US military sources, some 20 such attacks have been made on its aircrew operating in the East China Sea and Djibouti, since September last year, with the one being in the past fortnight.
Aviation Week has quoted a US Marine source as saying the attacks had come from “a range of different sources, both ashore and from fishing vessels”.
Lasers present a serious problem because when aimed at aircraft they can injure pilots or temporarily blind them - which can present safety risks particularly as they are taking off and landing.
As reported by News.com.au, Chinese, “fishing fleets are operated as a militia, working in close concert with Beijing’s navy as it seeks to assert its arbitrary claim to total control of the South and East China Seas.”
“A military spokeswoman has told the Wall Street Journal that none of the US aircrew were seriously injured by the attacks. But the temporary blindness and potential for accident-inducing serious eyesight damage was greatly disturbing.” Reported News.com.au.
Early May 2018, the Pentagon issued a formal complaint, demanding that Beijing investigate a series of incidents in recent weeks in the skies above Djibouti, where China and the US operate military bases just kilometres apart. The Pentagon said the incidents represented a serious threat to US airmen and warned them to exercise caution when flying near certain areas.
Chinese have denied these allegations. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China had informed the US that "after strict verification, we have told the US side that what they alleged is absolutely untrue".
"China always strictly abides by international law and the law of the country of residency and is committed to maintaining regional security and stability," said the statement posted to the ministry's microblog.
“East China Sea incidents involved smaller, commercial-grade laser pointers popularly known as “cat grade” lasers because pet owners have known to use to play with their animals. Even so, these types of lasers have been known to temporarily blind pilots and, in some cases, cause eye damage”, reported Japan Times on June 22, 2018.
Responding to Djibouti incident in early May 2018, which Beijing claims ‘fabricated’, Chinese foreign ministry stated: “According to what we have learned from the relevant authorities, the accusations in the relevant reports by US media are totally groundless and purely fabricated ... You can remind the relevant US person to keep in mind the truthfulness of what they say, and to not swiftly speculate or make accusations.”
