Germany accuses China of using a laser against its plane in the Red Sea and summons the Chinese ambassador
8 July 2025 15:37
On Tuesday, July 8, the German Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador over the incident involving the use of a laser against a German aircraft during the European Union’s ASPIDES operation in the Red Sea. This is stated in an official statement by the German Foreign Ministry, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to the German side, the Chinese military aimed a laser at a German reconnaissance plane that was participating in a mission to protect international sea lanes without warning. The incident occurred in early July. Due to the danger, the flight was immediately interrupted, and the crew returned safely to the base in Djibouti.
The German Foreign Ministry called the actions of the Chinese military unacceptable, as they jeopardized the safety of the personnel and the mission itself. In response, the Chinese ambassador was summoned for explanations.
The ASPIDES mission provides for maritime security in the Red Sea region, and the German aircraft has been performing reconnaissance missions using a multi-sensor platform since October.
China has not yet officially commented on the allegations. It is worth noting that in 2020, a similar incident already occurred: the United States accused a Chinese ship of using a laser against a patrol plane over international waters, but Beijing denied it.
