This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-43999502
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US accuses China of pointing lasers at its pilots from Djibouti base | US accuses China of pointing lasers at its pilots from Djibouti base |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US has formally complained to China over several incidents of its pilots being irritated by lasers it says are coming from a Chinese base in Djibouti. | The US has formally complained to China over several incidents of its pilots being irritated by lasers it says are coming from a Chinese base in Djibouti. |
| The Pentagon said it had asked China to investigate several "very serious incidents". | The Pentagon said it had asked China to investigate several "very serious incidents". |
| It said people at the east African base had been shining military-grade lasers at US pilots coming in to land. | It said people at the east African base had been shining military-grade lasers at US pilots coming in to land. |
| China has rejected the allegations, saying they are "inconsistent with facts". | China has rejected the allegations, saying they are "inconsistent with facts". |
| Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that the reports had been carefully verified and the US had been informed they were not true. | |
| "You can remind relevant people in the US to pay attention to facts and not to make groundless accusations," she added. | "You can remind relevant people in the US to pay attention to facts and not to make groundless accusations," she added. |
| Unclear intent | Unclear intent |
| The US has a military base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, which is used for counter-terrorism operations in Africa and the Middle East. | The US has a military base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, which is used for counter-terrorism operations in Africa and the Middle East. |
| Last year, China opened its first overseas military base only a few kilometres from the US facility. | Last year, China opened its first overseas military base only a few kilometres from the US facility. |
| "They are very serious incidents," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters. "We have formally démarched the Chinese government and we've requested the Chinese investigate these incidents." | "They are very serious incidents," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters. "We have formally démarched the Chinese government and we've requested the Chinese investigate these incidents." |
| Ms White said the Pentagon was confident that while the intent had been unclear, lasers had been pointed by Chinese nationals. | Ms White said the Pentagon was confident that while the intent had been unclear, lasers had been pointed by Chinese nationals. |
| In the past few weeks, about 10 incidents took place, she said. | In the past few weeks, about 10 incidents took place, she said. |
| In one case, two pilots on a cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries as they came in to land, US officials said. | In one case, two pilots on a cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries as they came in to land, US officials said. |
| Meanwhile, the White House responded to reports of renewed Chinese activity in the South China Sea. | Meanwhile, the White House responded to reports of renewed Chinese activity in the South China Sea. |
| The report from US broadcaster CNBC, citing unnamed sources "with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports", said China had placed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles on outposts in the Spratly Islands over the past month. | The report from US broadcaster CNBC, citing unnamed sources "with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports", said China had placed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles on outposts in the Spratly Islands over the past month. |
| "We're well aware of China's militarisation of the South China Sea," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "We've raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this, and there will be near-term and long-term consequences." | "We're well aware of China's militarisation of the South China Sea," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "We've raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this, and there will be near-term and long-term consequences." |
| China did not confirm the reports but its foreign ministry reasserted China's right to defend what it called its sovereignty over the contested islands. | China did not confirm the reports but its foreign ministry reasserted China's right to defend what it called its sovereignty over the contested islands. |
| Several nations claim parts of the resource-rich South China Sea but recent years have seen Beijing reasserting its claim. | Several nations claim parts of the resource-rich South China Sea but recent years have seen Beijing reasserting its claim. |
| China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims. | China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims. |
| Over the past years, the US has sent military vessels and aircraft to the region in what it describes as "freedom of navigation operations". | Over the past years, the US has sent military vessels and aircraft to the region in what it describes as "freedom of navigation operations". |