China rejects German claim it targeted military plane with laser
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Tensions Flare: EU Calls Out China for Alleged Laser Targeting
The incident reportedly occurred during an EU security mission in the Red Sea. China has firmly denied the allegations, emphasizing the absence of evidence of hostile actions. Historically, China has also dismissed similar accusations concerning U.S. aircraft.
According to Germany, a Chinese warship used a laser on a German patrol aircraft participating in Operation ASPIDES, designed to protect commercial vessels against Houthi rebel threats. Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy, labeled the incident as both dangerous and unacceptable, highlighting the risk posed to personnel and the mission’s integrity.
While Germany noted repeated encounters with the same Chinese warship, China has firmly denied the allegations, emphasizing the absence of evidence of hostile actions. Historically, China has also dismissed similar accusations concerning U.S. aircraft, though encounters with European NATO members remain rare.
(With inputs from agencies.)
China denies directing laser at German plane over the Red Sea
Berlin claims Chinese military directed a laser at a German aircraft over the Red Sea. Chinese foreign ministry dismisses claims as “completely inconsistent with the facts” German aircraft was participating in a “routine” EU-led mission to protect marine traffic. China has been accused several times in recent years of using lasers in similar incidents. The Bild daily said the incident took place on July 2 near the Yemeni coast and involved a “blinding laser” aimed at disrupting the operation of an aircraft.
The foreign ministry in Berlin said on Tuesday that a German aircraft participating in a “routine” EU-led mission to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea had been targeted by a laser, endangering personnel.
Its counterpart in Beijing rejected the accusation.
“Both sides should adopt a pragmatic attitude, strengthen communication in a timely manner, and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
She said Chinese naval vessels had been carrying out escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters, “contributing to the safety of international shipping lanes”.
Berlin however on Wednesday insisted its findings were based on a “thorough investigation”.
“We expressed our position and our findings very clearly and very explicitly (to the Chinese ambassador), and of course also our expectation that incidents of this kind will not be repeated,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said.
Defence ministry spokesman Mitko Mueller added that “we have clear evidence that a Chinese warship used a laser against our aircraft”.
When reporting the alleged incident on Tuesday, Berlin had said the reconnaissance aircraft involved had been forced to abandon its mission and returned to a base in Djibouti.
It was not immediately clear whether the laser was a weapon or a laser guidance system.
The Bild daily said the incident took place on July 2 near the Yemeni coast and involved a “blinding laser” aimed at disrupting the operation of an aircraft.
China has been accused several times in recent years of using lasers in similar incidents.
It established its first permanent overseas naval base in Djibouti in 2016, reportedly at a cost of $590 million and strategically placed between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Beijing has said the base is used to resupply navy ships, support regional peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and combat piracy, although its proximity to a US military base has raised concerns of espionage.
The Philippines said in February 2023 a Chinese military vessel had used a military-grade laser against one of its patrol boats in the disputed South China Sea.
In 2022, Australia said the Chinese army had directed a laser at one of its surveillance aircraft in an “act of intimidation”.
EU summons Chinese ambassador over laser incident involving German aircraft
China’s military allegedly targeted a German aircraft with a laser during an EU security mission in the Red Sea. The incident reportedly occurred in early July during a routine flight, with no prior warning or communication from the Chinese vessel. China has previously denied accusations of firing or pointing lasers at U.S. planes.
FILE PHOTO: The flags of Germany, China and the European Union are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
BRUSSELS – The European Union has summoned the Chinese ambassador following an incident in which China’s military allegedly targeted a German aircraft with a laser during an EU security mission in the Red Sea. China has denied the accusation.
According to Germany, a Chinese warship used a laser to target a German patrol aircraft taking part in Operation ASPIDES, the EU-led mission tasked with protecting commercial vessels from Houthi rebel attacks. The incident reportedly occurred in early July during a routine flight, with no prior warning or communication from the Chinese vessel.
“The Chinese military’s use of a laser to target a German aircraft patrolling with EU Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea is dangerous and unacceptable,” said Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy. “This act put personnel at risk and compromised the aircraft’s mission.”
While German officials have reported multiple encounters with the same Chinese warship in the region, Beijing has rejected the claim, saying there is no evidence of hostile action.
China has previously denied accusations of firing or pointing lasers at U.S. planes. Incidents involving a European NATO member and China are more unusual. REUTERS
China vs Germany over laser attack; Beijing gives ‘pragmatic attitude’ advice
China rejects claims by Germany that Chinese military directed a laser at a German aircraft over the Red Sea. The country’s foreign minister said Berlin’s accusations were “completely inconsistentwith the facts” Beijing asked Berlin to adopt what it called a pragmatic attitude and strengthen communication.
Germany claimed on Tuesday that an aircraft, while participating in an EU-led missing to protect ship traffic in the Red Sea against possible pirate attacks, was targeted by a laser. Beijing rejected the accusation, asking Berlin to adopt what it called a pragmatic attitude.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called for strengthening communication betweenChina and the NATO member nation.
“Both sides should adopt a pragmatic attitude, strengthen communication in a timely manner, and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations,” she added.
She said Chinese naval vessels had been carrying out escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and, in Somali waters, “contributing to the safety of international shipping lanes”.
Berlin called the alleged incident completely unacceptable, claiming that the reconnaissance aircraft involved had been forced to abandon its mission and return to a base in Djibouti.
Germany didn’t reveal what kind of laser weapon had been used.
The incident took place in July near the coast of Yemen. A “blinding laser”, which disrupts the operation of an aircraft, was allegedly directed at the aircraft.
China rejects German claim it targeted military plane with laser
China claims it fired a laser at a U.S. military plane in the Gulf of Aden. The U.N. says the laser was fired from a Chinese military plane. China says it is investigating the incident and has launched an investigation into the incident. The incident is the latest in a series of incidents involving lasers in recent years. The lasers are used by the U.K. and other countries to protect their military bases. They can also be used to target targets in the air, such as ships and submarines. The United States has been using the lasers to protect its military bases in the region.
Germany said the laser was fired from a Chinese warship, pictured here off the coast of Taiwan last year
Beijing has pushed back, saying Germany’s account was “totally inconsistent with the facts known by the Chinese side”.
The German foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador and described the incident as “entirely unacceptable”. China’s EU envoy has also been summoned by the bloc, Reuters reports.
Germany accused China of attempting to disrupt one of its aircraft earlier this month as it was taking part in European Union-led operations aimed at protecting ships in the Red Sea from missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group.
China has disputed Germany’s claim that it targeted a military plane with a laser fired from a warship, as a diplomatic spat between the two countries deepens.
On Tuesday, Germany said a reconnaissance plane was targeted as it flew over the Red Sea, where several European countries have been contributing to surveillance and defensive efforts since early 2024 to protect ships from regular attacks launched from Yemen.
The laser was fired from a Chinese warship, which had been spotted several times and had made no communication with the passing aircraft, Germany said.
The plane was forced to abandon its mission and return to a military base in the East African nation of Djibouti as a precaution, according to the foreign ministry.
Berlin has reacted furiously to the incident, accusing China of “endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation”.
The Chinese government responded on Wednesday, with spokesperson Mao Ning telling a press conference that its navy had been carrying out “escort operations” in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.
She said Germany and China should “take a fact-based attitude and strengthen communication in a timely manner to avoid misunderstanding and misjudgement”.
China has been accused of using lasers to target military aircraft before, primarily by the US. China has denied doing so.
Lasers can be used to blind pilots, and a new class of powerful lasers capable of disabling targets in the air are under development by militaries around the world.
China established a permanent military presence in the region in 2017 when it opened a base in Djibouti, which Beijing says is used for anti-piracy and freedom of maritime navigation operations.
Western governments have expressed concerns about China’s ambitions in the region since opening the base in Djibouti, where the US, Japan, France and others also have military installations.
It is located at a strategically important pinch point leading on to the Red Sea and Suez Canal – one of the world’s most important shipping routes.