'Disrupting Operation Entirely Unacceptable': Germany Claims China Targeted Its Aircraft With Laser Over Red Sea

Germany on Tuesday claimed the Chinese military had targeted a laser at a German aircraft participating in an EU-led operation to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea.

"The Chinese military employed a laser targeting a German aircraft in the EU operation #ASPIDES. Endangering German personnel & disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable. The Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office today," the German foreign ministry said on microblogging website X. There was no immediate response from Beijing.

The German aircraft was targeted "without reason or prior contact... during a routine operation" over the Red Sea while taking part in the European Union's Aspides mission, a spokesman for the German defence ministry was quoted saying by NDTV.

Fortunately, the crew did not suffer any injuries and the aircraft has since resumed operations under the EU mission.

The laser incident reportedly took place in early July during Germany’s participation in Operation Aspides, an EU military initiative started on February 19 2024, to protect international shipping in the southern Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants.