Unacceptable: Germany accuses China of laser attack on its jet during EU mission

Tensions flared between Berlin and Beijing after the German government on Tuesday accused the Chinese military of targeting a German reconnaissance aircraft with a laser during an EU-led mission in the Red Sea. The incident prompted the German foreign ministry to summon China's ambassador, denouncing the act as "completely unacceptable".

According to German outlet Der Spiegel, the incident occurred near the coast of Yemen at the beginning of July. The targeted aircraft, a Multi-Sensor Platform (MSP) used for reconnaissance, was participating in the EU's ASPIDES operation, which aims to protect international shipping routes in the southern Red Sea from attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants. The laser was reportedly fired from a Chinese warship operating in the area.

Germany's foreign office said in a post on X, "The endangerment of German personnel and the disruption of the mission are completely unacceptable."

Although the precise coordinates of the incident were not disclosed, the defence ministry confirmed the aircraft was conducting a routine mission when the laser was directed at it.

A spokesperson from Germany's defence ministry stated that the Chinese warship had previously been encountered multiple times in the region. During the laser incident, no prior communication or warning was issued by the Chinese vessel. As a precaution, the mission flight was aborted, and the aircraft landed safely at a base in Djibouti.

The MSP, described by officials as a "flying eye", is operated by a civilian commercial service provider, with German armed forces personnel also on board. The platform has contributed crucial reconnaissance data to the ASPIDES mission since its deployment in October. The ministry confirmed that the MSP's deployment in the region has since resumed following the incident.

Germany is one of several European nations contributing to ASPIDES, a mission launched in February 2024 to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region. Other contributing nations include Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

The latest incident adds to a growing list of laser-related confrontations involving China's military. While such cases have previously been reported by the United States, including a 2020 claim that a Chinese warship targeted a US naval aircraft over international waters near Guam, incidents involving a European NATO member are relatively rare. In past instances, China has denied using lasers against US aircraft, calling the claims unfounded.

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