[Laser] US accuses China of pointing LASERs at US military aircraft

[bernieS]

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-4-blinding-laser-weapons-that-china-has-developed-2018-5

These are China's laser weapons that have 
reportedly been targeting US planes in 'an act just short of war'

<http://www.businessinsider.com/author/daniel-brown>Daniel Brown
May. 4, 2018, 3:34 PM


The US accused China on Thursday of pointing 
lasers at US military aircraft near Djibouti 
multiple times in the past few weeks. Beijing has denied the allegations.

US officials told The Wall Street Journal that 
there had been at least four such incidents near 
Djibouti and that in one of the latest two C-130 
pilots became dizzy and saw "rings."

Since 2015, China has had at least four different 
kinds of blinding laser weapons: the BBQ-905 
Laser Dazzler Weapon, the WJG-2002 Laser Gun, the 
PY132A Blinding Laser Weapon, and the PY131A Blinding Laser Weapon.


The Pentagon 
<http://www.businessinsider.com/us-says-chinese-laser-attacks-injured-plane-crews-china-strongly-denies-2018-5>formally 
complained to the Chinese government on Thursday, 
accusing Chinese nationals of pointing lasers at 
US military aircraft near Djibouti, in east 
Africa, multiple times in the past few weeks.

"They are very serious incidents," Dana White, a 
Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters, adding: "We 
have formally démarched the Chinese government, 
and we've requested the Chinese investigate these incidents."

The Chinese Defense Ministry, which has a 
military base just miles from the US's Camp 
Lemonnier in Djibouti, denied the accusations.

China's naval base in Djibouti, 
<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-djibouti/china-formally-opens-first-overseas-military-base-in-djibouti-idUSKBN1AH3E3>which 
opened last year, is Beijing's first overseas military base.

Citing military officials, 
<https://www.wsj.com/articles/laser-from-chinese-base-aimed-at-u-s-military-pilots-in-africas-skies-pentagon-charges-1525351775>The 
Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that in 
past weeks, there had been at least four 
incidents in which US service members have been 
targeted with military-grade or 
non-military-grade lasers originating near a 
Chinese military installation in Djibouti. There 
have also been additional incidents occurring 
within US Pacific Command, the officials said.

Since 2015, China has had at least four kinds of 
blinding laser weapons: the BBQ-905 Laser Dazzler 
Weapon, the WJG-2002 Laser Gun, the PY132A 
Blinding Laser Weapon, and the PY131A Blinding Laser Weapon.

Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on Ponce
The Laser Weapon System on the USS Ponce. US Navy

The four weapons "look like oversized assault 
rifles or shoulder-fired grenade launchers," 
<http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20615/us-military-says-chinese-lasers-injured-pilots-flying-a-c-130-near-its-base-in-djibouti>according 
to The War Zone. They could possibly violate the 
United Nations Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons 
that Beijing signed in 1998, 
<http://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinese-military-using-blinding-laser-weapons/>The 
Washington Free Beacon reported.

In a recent incident, two C-130 pilots became 
dizzy and saw "rings," a Pentagon official told 
The Journal, adding that they are recovering.

"These incidents are not surprising as they 
represent an act just short of war, but indicate 
gross, intentional negligence, as well as 
complete disregard for aviation safety and 
international norms," Trey Meeks, a principal at 
the Asia Group research firm, told The Journal. 
"I would certainly view it as harassment."

US pilots have begun wearing eye protection or 
visors for protection and are even planning their 
flights around Chinese military flights, The Journal reported.

The US military has issued a Notice to Airmen 
about "multiple lazing events involving a high 
power laser" in Djibouti, saying to "use extreme 
caution when transiting near this area," 
<https://thediplomat.com/2018/05/possible-use-of-blinding-laser-weapon-near-chinas-djibouti-base-spurs-us-warning-to-aviators/>according 
to The Diplomat. The Federal Aviation 
Administration also sent the notice in April.

The incidents come at a contentious time in 
US-China relations. US President Donald Trump has 
announced tariffs on Chinese goods and 
restrictions on certain US technology exports.

China and Russia have also recently 
<http://www.businessinsider.com/china-russia-military-political-partnership-us-2018-4>forged 
a military partnership, which China's defense 
minister said would "let the Americans know about 
the close ties between the armed forces of China and Russia."


SEE ALSO: 
<http://www.businessinsider.com/china-laser-weapons-2018-5>8 
tactical laser weapons China has recently developed