Flight security

These are China's laser weapons that have reportedly been targeting US planes in 'an act just short of war'

The Pentagon formally complained to the Chinese government on Thursday, accusing Chinese nationals of pointing lasers at US military aircraft near Djibouti, in east Africa, multiple times in the past few weeks.

"They are very serious incidents," Dana White, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters, adding: "We have formally démarched the Chinese government, and we've requested the Chinese investigate these incidents."

The Chinese Defense Ministry, which has a military base just miles from the US's Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, denied the accusations.

China's naval base in Djibouti, which opened last year, is Beijing's first overseas military base.

Citing military officials, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that in past weeks, there had been at least four incidents in which US service members have been targeted with military-grade or non-military-grade lasers originating near a Chinese military installation in Djibouti. There have also been additional incidents occurring within US Pacific Command, the officials said.