China’s grey zone tactics amount to far more than just laser games

Summary

This article by Peter Layton in The Interpreter makes the following points:

• The laser rangefinder attack is the first Chinese grey-zone action close to Australia—about 170 kilometres from Marchinbar Island. NT.
• The Chinese ships have optical fire control systems incorporating laser range finders.
• Military-grade lasers are prohibited except in war.
• Strict safety protocols apply.
• Potentially serious eye damage.
• The Soviets used lasers during the cold war to blind or dazzle aircrews.
• Chinese Communist Party political officers on board both vessels would have ensured that any action taken by the ship would have been approved at a senior level.
• Chinese fishing vessels have used commercial-grade lasers previously.
• China will probably continue to use lasers until such usage becomes normal.
• Chinese grey zone actions are becoming more black and white.

References

Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:

• Australia’s China policy and national security | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• Australia must adopt unorthodox options to disrupt China’s grey-zone threat. | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)

References from the Web:

• FEB 2022 What was the Chinese laser attack about and why does it matter? – The Canberra Times
• FEB 2022 Chinese navy laser lights up Australian military aircraft, Canberra says-Reuters
• FEB 2022 China Just Bullied an Australian Patrol Aircraft with a ‘Military-Grade’ Laser-Popular Mechanics
• FEB 2022 Australia says Chinese warship 'illuminated' one of its planes with a laser-CNN

Source Information: Lowy Institute The

• Article Source:  TheInterpreter: an Australian think tank with a global outlook.
• Media Check: TheInterpreter - Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com) pending
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