Germany has accused the Chinese military of targeting one of its aircraft with a laser during an EU operation over the Red Sea.
The Chinese ambassador has been summoned to the German foreign ministry over the incident it claims took place at the beginning of this month.
The flare-up in tensions comes as concerns mount in the EU about Beijing’s influence on critical technologies and security infrastructure in Europe.
Germany’s defence ministry has said the aircraft was taking part in the EU’s Aspides mission which is a response to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Operation Aspides is a purely defensive mission to increase maritime surveillance in the region, provide escort to merchant vessels, and defend against strikes. It covers the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.
The maritime surveillance aircraft has been carrying out reconnaissance work over the Red Sea since October.
A Chinese warship, which had been encountered several times in the Red Sea, targeted the aircraft with a laser with no reason or prior communication during a routine mission flight, a Germany foreign ministry spokesperson said.
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They added: “By using the laser, the warship put at risk the safety of personnel and material.”
The mission flight was aborted as a precaution and the aircraft landed safely at a base in Djibouti, the spokesperson said.
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Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign ministry wrote on X: “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 aircraft has since resumed its operations with the EU mission in the Red Sea.
There was no immediate response from China’s foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Berlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China has previously denied accusations of firing or pointing lasers at US planes.
Incidents involving a European NATO member and China are more unusual.
In 2020, the US Pacific Fleet said a Chinese warship had fired a laser at a US naval patrol aircraft flying in airspace above international waters west of Guam.
China denied the event took place.
