A Chinese navy ship reportedly fired a laser at an Australian surveillance aircraft in a move that put pilots at risk and further increased tension between China and the West.

In a statement on Saturday, the Australian Defense Department confirmed that the incident took place on Thursday and expressed concern about China's actions. The move took place in the Arafura Sea, which is along Australia’s north coast and an exclusive economic zone.

“Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident,” the Defense Department said.

“We strongly condemn unprofessional and unsafe military conduct. These actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the ADF personnel," the statement read.

The fired laser came from China's People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel. It shot at Australia’s P-8A Poseidon plane, according to the Defense Department.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the incident an “act of intimidation."

China has recently been accused by the U.S. and its allies of stunting military schemes to show off its power as ties between the two countries remain strained.

The use of lasers is considered an act of aggression as they can potentially blind pilots when aimed directly at an aircraft.

"I think the Chinese government is hoping that nobody talks about these aggressive bullying acts," Australia Defense Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News. "We're seeing different forms of it right across the region and in many parts of the world."

The incident was not the first time China used high-grade lasers.

The U.S. accused China's navy of firing a laser at one if its Poseidon planes over the Pacific in 2020 and also filed a complaint in 2018 about a similar incident near Djibouti.