Defense Secretary Esper presses Chinese general on 'unsafe' lasering of U.S. warplane

The Washington Times ^ | Friday, March 6, 2020 | Bill Gertz

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Defense Secretary Mark Esper this week confronted China’s defense minister over the Chinese military’s use of a high-powered laser to illuminate a Navy patrol aircraft near Guam last month.

On Tuesday, Mr. Esper called Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe to discuss several issues, including the Feb. 17 laser incident some 380 miles west of Guam.

“During the call, Secretary Esper raised concern over an incident on Feb. 17 in which a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was lased by PRC navy destroyer 161 while flying in airspace above international waters,” the Pentagon said in a statement issued Friday.

The new statement revised guidance published earlier in the week that said the laser incident was not discussed between Mr. Esper and Gen. Wei.

China’s government made no mention of the laser incident in the official government readout of the Esper-Wei call, and the Chinese government’s spokesmen have been silent on the provocative action.

“Secretary Esper called on the People’s Liberation Army to conduct itself safely and professionally in accordance with bilateral agreements and international standards of safety at sea,” the statement said. “The incident underscores the need for the two militaries to enhance bilateral crisis communication mechanisms to ensure incidents like this do not escalate or lead to miscalculation.”

The P-8A is armed with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

[Carriage Hill]

Is there a missile that would follow a laser to its source? If so, arm the planes and use them.

[rigelkentaurus]

Drop a load of slime highly contaminated with their own Coronavirus all down the deck of the ship.

[ThunderSleeps]

Be a “shame” if next time that happened the laser caused a “malfunction” in the Harpoon system and the missile launched at the destroyer... I’m sure we could get Lockheed Martin or Raytheon or some such right on that problem... Sorry about that big smoking hole in the side of your ship...

[Robert357]

I think that the notice of don't play laser tag with us, was probably heard.

If the Chicom’s try this stunt again, perhaps sinking a Chicom ship might be in order or at least boarding it on the high seas to take the Captain hostage for a US Naval military trial.