Berlin says China targeted German plane with laser over Red Sea

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

"Endangering German personnel (and) disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable," the foreign ministry said on X, adding that Beijing's ambassador to Berlin had been summoned for talks.

The German reconnaissance aircraft was operating as part of the European Union's Operation ASPIDES, a mission aimed at protecting civilian shipping from Houthi attacks.

The German Defense Ministry stated that the Chinese warship used the laser against the German multi-sensor platform aircraft "without any reason or prior contact" earlier this month.

"By using the laser, the warship accepted the risk of endangering people and material," a defense ministry spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft, which carries German army personnel and is operated by a civilian commercial provider, aborted its mission as a precaution.

It landed safely at its base in Djibouti, and the crew was unharmed, with operations since resuming.

The Chinese military forces have been accused before of similar laser incidents involving US, Australian, and Canadian aircraft in the Indo-Pacific in the past, but this marks an unusual instance involving a military asset from a European NATO member.