The U.S. must counter Chinese government-directed laser harassment of U.S. military aircrews. These attacks involve firing high-intensity laser beams into the cockpits of U.S. aircraft and thus temporarily blinding the pilots or co-pilots.
As Aviation Week reported, the attacks are now escalating in geographic reach; where previously localized to Djibouti, the Chinese are now targeting U.S. personnel in the South China Sea. To claim a pretense of deniability, Chinese intelligence officers are operating the lasers from civilian-appearance platforms. But the U.S. knows with very high confidence that China is culpable.
Considering that previous laser attacks injured two members of a U.S. air crew operating in Djibouti, China’s latest escalation cannot go unanswered.
But it’s equally important to consider the strategic context here. Determined to reshape the balance of Indo-Pacific power in China’s hegemonic favor, President Xi Jinping has directed his military and intelligence forces to constantly test the U.S. response to various challenges. That’s what this laser harassment is: an effort to gauge America’s willingness to respond with necessary escalation (the only physical way to stop these laser attacks is to use some measure of force against it).
This speaks to a broader strategic point: China is an adversary, not a neutral partner.
While Beijing is supporting the U.S. in relation to the North Korean situation, China sees these laser incidents (and other areas of harassment) as a means of deterring U.S. action on tariffs and U.S. efforts to contest China’s usurpation of the South China Sea. And just as China has been relentless in its efforts to steal U.S. intellectual property, it will be relentless in this harassment if unchallenged.
So what should the U.S. do?
Well, first, the Pentagon should publish video of these incidents alongside a presentation as to the location of the Chinese forces involved. There is a distinct similarity between Chinese and Russian tradecraft in relation to these covert operations. Both nations know that the U.S. knows they are responsible for the respective activities, but they also expect the U.S. will not publicly identify their culpability. We must be more willing to do so.
Yet that alone won’t be enough. The U.S. should also deploy more robust forces more often and with more allies into areas of Chinese concern. While there is diplomatic potential to resolve U.S.-China related challenges, they will only arise if and when China knows that it cannot dominate the U.S. without riposte.
But if the laser attacks exacerbate in seriousness — the Chinese are being risky thus far while avoiding action that would indicate a desire to bring down U.S. aircraft — the White House should grant authority to use defensive force to eliminate the threat.
