The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that Chinese nationals fired lasers
near a military base in east Africa against U.S. military aircraft in
the region, injuring several pilots.
Pentagon Press Secretary Dana White said the U.S. government made
diplomatic protests to the Chinese government over several recent
incidents of laser firings near China's first overseas military base at
Djibouti.
"These are very serious incidents. There have been two minor
injuries. This activity poses a threat to our airmen," White told
reporters.
"We have formally demarched the Chinese government, and we've
requested that the Chinese investigate these incidents," she added.
The number of incidents is "more than two but less than ten" and the laser firings took place in recent weeks, White said.
White said the Pentagon is confident that Chinese nationals were
behind the laser firings but did not elaborate on the intelligence
linking Beijing to the incidents.
She declined to speculate on the Chinese motive behind the laser attacks.
"I believe there have been cases where this has happened previously,"
White said. "But what this started was these last few weeks we decided
to become very serious about it, and we have demarched the Chinese, and
we've asked for the investigation."
China's government has not commented on the incidents. A Chinese
military expert told the state-run Global Times newspaper that the U.S.
accusations that China used a laser weapon in Djibouti was "groundless."
China opened the military base in Djibouti last year and plans to deploy some 400 troops there.
China's government has asserted that the base is merely a logistics
hub for anti-piracy operations as well as to support China's
international infrastructure project called Belt and Road Initiative.
The U.S. government regards the Chinese base as part of Beijing's efforts to project military power around the world.
The Djibouti incidents appear similar to the 1997 incident involving a
Russian merchant ship that was shadowing a Navy missile submarine and
fired a laser on a Canadian surveillance helicopter.
The laser damaged the eyes of the Navy Lt. Jack Daly and Canadian pilot
Captain Patrick Barnes near Washington state and was covered up by the
administration of President Bill Clinton.
China and the United States have battled over international trade and
finance after the Trump administration announced it will impose tariffs
on China for its unfair trade practices.
The U.S. and Chinese militaries also have squared off in the South
China Sea where China is seeking to take control of the strategic
waterway. The U.S. military has been seeking to counter the illegal
claim by sending ships and aircraft near disputed islands in the sea
that have been militarized in recent years by China.
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/pentagon-confirms-chinese-fired-lasers-u-s-pilots/
"... It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."....I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Thursday, May 3, 2018
CHINA IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH ITS BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE GLOBAL REACH IS READY TO PUT A NOOSE AROUND THE WORLD WITH ITS FINANCING OF POOR THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES IN EXCHANGE FOR FORCED MILITARY BASES WHEN DEBT PAYMENT IS NOT MADE SUCH AS DJIBOUTI AFRICA AND ITS RING AROUND THE COLLAR OF THE ASIA'S SOUTH SEA NOW FUNCTIONING MILITARY ISLAND CARRIER BASES
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