Australia Accuses China of Shining Laser at Surveillance Plane

SYDNEY—Australia accused the Chinese navy of shining a military-grade laser at a surveillance plane flying over its territorial waters, in the latest escalation of tensions that have seen the two countries clash over trade, cybersecurity and election interference.

The P-8A Poseidon aircraft was monitoring two Chinese navy ships that were sailing east through the Arafura Sea north of Australia on Feb. 17 when it was targeted by a laser from one of the vessels, Australia’s Defense Department said.