Australia Accuses China of Shining Laser at Surveillance Plane

SYDNEY—Australia accused the Chinese navy of shining a military services-quality laser at a surveillance plane traveling about its territorial waters, in the most up-to-date escalation of tensions that have witnessed the two nations around the world clash around trade, cybersecurity and election interference.

The P-8A Poseidon aircraft was checking two Chinese navy ships that have been sailing east via the Arafura Sea north of Australia on Feb. 17 when it was qualified by a laser from a single of the vessels, Australia’s Protection Section explained.