News Analysis China’s Navy is firing lasers again, this time at an Australian surveillance plane within Australia’s own exclusive economic zone, and very likely within sight of the Australian mainland. This is a laser redux of similar aggression by China’s Navy against U.S. and Australian pilots that has occurred on multiple occasions over the years, without serious response. That failure of credible deterrence is an invitation for more abuse. China’s latest laser show cannot in any way be presented as a defensive action by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). It is offensive, against a U.S. ally, and up close and personal. Australia’s prime minister, the conservative Scott Morrison, rightly described the attack as an “act of intimidation.” An expert commentator claimed that it could be a laser rangefinder for a much more powerful weapon. Regardless, it could have blinded the pilots, who flew a P-8A Poseidon aircraft hit on …