China has refuted Germany’s allegation that a Chinese warship targeted a German military aircraft with a laser, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two nations.
Earlier this month, Germany accused China of attempting to interfere with one of its aircraft participating in European Union-led operations aimed at safeguarding ships in the Red Sea from missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The German foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador, denouncing the incident as “entirely unacceptable.” The EU has also summoned China’s envoy to the bloc.
Beijing has countered, asserting that Germany’s account is “totally inconsistent with the facts known by the Chinese side.”
On Tuesday, Germany stated that a reconnaissance plane was targeted while flying over the Red Sea, where several European countries have contributed to surveillance and defensive efforts since early 2024 to protect ships from frequent attacks originating from Yemen.
According to Germany, the laser originated from a Chinese warship that had been observed multiple times but had not communicated with the passing aircraft.
The German foreign ministry reported that the plane was compelled to abort its mission and return to a military base in Djibouti as a precautionary measure.
Berlin has reacted strongly to the incident, accusing China of “endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation.”
EU foreign policy spokesperson Anouar El Anouni described the incident as “dangerous and unacceptable.”
“This act put personnel at risk and compromised the aircraft’s mission,” he added.
Chinese government spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the matter on Wednesday, stating at a press conference that its navy had been conducting “escort operations” in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.
She urged Germany and China to “take a fact-based attitude and strengthen communication in a timely manner to avoid misunderstanding and misjudgement.”
China has faced prior accusations, primarily from the US, of using lasers to target military aircraft, allegations which China has denied.
Lasers can be used to blind pilots, and a new generation of high-powered lasers capable of disabling airborne targets is currently under development by militaries globally.
In 2017, China established a permanent military presence in the region by opening a base in Djibouti, which Beijing states is used for anti-piracy and maritime navigation freedom operations.
Western governments have voiced concerns regarding China’s ambitions in the region since the opening of the base in Djibouti, where the US, Japan, France, and other nations also maintain military installations.
The base is strategically located at a critical juncture leading to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most vital shipping routes.
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