Australia has accused the Chinese Navy of endangering the lives of Australian soldiers on board a reconnaissance plane by using a laser.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke of an "act of intimidation" and "reckless and irresponsible behavior that should not have happened".
Friederike Böge
Political correspondent for China, North Korea and Mongolia.
Follow I follow
According to the Ministry of Defense in Canberra, a Chinese guided missile destroyer aimed a laser at an Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft in the Arafura Sea off the Australian coast on Thursday.
Morrison said blinding the pilot could have made the plane maneuverable and endangered the crew on board.
"Serious Security Incident"
He announced that he would raise the matter through "diplomatic and military channels".
Beijing must explain "why a naval ship in Australia's exclusive economic zone is taking such an action".
There is no justification for the Chinese approach.
The Australian Ministry of Defense also spoke of a "serious security incident".
There was initially no reaction from Beijing.
Tensions between Australia and China have risen since Canberra struck the AUKUS security pact with the US and UK in September.
US Air Force Commander in the Pacific, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, recently expressed concern that China might try something provocative in the Indo-Pacific "to see how the international community reacts."