{"id":41727,"date":"2020-03-07T18:52:03","date_gmt":"2020-03-07T18:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/07\/china-disputes-report-it-fired-laser-at-us-navy-plane\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:47:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:47:41","slug":"china-disputes-report-it-fired-laser-at-us-navy-plane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/03\/07\/china-disputes-report-it-fired-laser-at-us-navy-plane\/","title":{"rendered":"China disputes report it fired laser at US Navy plane"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BEIJING \u2014 China\u2019s Defense Ministry says a report one of its navy ships fired a laser last month at a U.S. Navy surveillance plane<\/a> circling overhead does not \u201caccord with reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report last month was the latest accusation that Chinese forces have used lasers to harass and potentially damage U.S. and other nations’ military aircraft and personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang<\/a> was quoted as saying Friday that the ministry \u201crefuted\u201d the report and said a Chinese squadron was conducting routine exercises in international waters on Feb. 17 when the incident allegedly happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In China\u2019s first public comments on the alleged incident, Ren accused an American P-8A Poseidon<\/a> of carrying out \u201clong-period circling reconnaissance at low-altitude despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The American aircraft’s behavior was unfriendly in intention and unprofessional by operation, which severely threatened the safety of the vessels, aircraft and crew of both sides,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t