Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants answers over China’s ‘bully’ tactics

Scott Morrison has denounced Chinese leader Xi Jinping for “bullying and coercion” after a navy ship targeted an Australian defence aircraft with a military-grade laser.

Scott Morrison has denounced Chinese leader Xi Jinping for “bullying and coercion” and demanded answers from Beijing after it was revealed a Chinese navy ship targeted an Australian defence aircraft with a military-grade laser.

The action, which occurred in Australia’s exclusive economic zone last Thursday while the aircraft was carrying out surveillance duties in the Arafura Sea, put the lives of up to 10 defence force members in danger and has sparked concern about China’s rising influence in the region.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings said the incident may highlight the need to find “new strategies” on safeguarding the northern border if China becomes more hostile.

“I don’t think it's the right conclusion to say we lack the capacity to defend ourselves but we are dealing with very hostile behaviour on the part of the Chinese crew and we will need to think of new strategies to deal with that situation going forward,” Mr Jennings said.

“That is what concerns me most, that it is a hostile act from a country which is clearly not willing to co-operate with us.

“It’s just unprofessional and dangerous and if it turned more hostile then Australia has the right to self defence.”

The Prime Minister said China engaged in an “unprovoked” act of aggression, and declared the importance of the AUKUS and Quad agreements to ensure all countries within the Indo-Pacific region could be free to live without fear of “threats and intimidation”.

“I can see it no other way than an act of intimidation, one that was unprovoked, unwarranted and Australia will never accept such acts of intimidation,” he said.

“It was a dangerous act. These sorts of things can disable such aircraft and put those on that aircraft at great risk.

“So I thought it was a reckless and irresponsible act and it should not occur.”

The incident happened during a week of controversy in parliament, with Mr Morrison elevating national security as an election issue by claiming Labor did not have the strength to stand up to China.

His rhetoric, which included calling Labor deputy leader Richard Marles a “Manchurian candidate”, was criticised by ASIO director-general Mike Burgess and former top spy Dennis Richardson.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton on Sunday labelled the act as “aggressive bullying” as he ramped up the government’s attack on Labor for being “weak” on national security.

“I think the Chinese government is hoping that nobody talks about these aggressive bullying acts,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.

“Australia is not going to stare down a bully in our region from a position of weakness and that’s the position of Labor ... that’s the ground that Anthony Albanese would occupy and it’s not the ground that this government has adopted.”

Mr Albanese condemned China for its “reckless” behaviour as he defended Labor’s record on national security.

The Opposition Leader said Australia needed to continue to “stand up” for Australian values in response to China’s changed “posture” under President Xi, as he sought to distance himself from former Labor prime minister Paul Keating.

“China is engaged in more aggressive activity of which we have seen this latest report has been just an example ... China is more engaged in the region,” he said.

“It's changed its posture and Australia has needed to respond to that.“