China has firmly rejected Germany's allegations of targeting a reconnaissance plane with a laser during a military operation in the Red Sea, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Earlier this month, Germany accused China of attempting to disrupt its aircraft, which was part of an EU mission aimed at safeguarding vessels from missile threats imposed by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The German foreign ministry responded by summoning the Chinese ambassador, labeling the incident as "entirely unacceptable." In turn, China’s EU envoy faced a similar summons. Beijing criticized Germany's portrayal, claiming it was "totally inconsistent with the facts," as described by spokesperson Mao Ning.
According to Germany, the laser was fired from a Chinese warship that was not in communication with passing aircraft, forcing the reconnaissance plane to abandon its mission and return to Djibouti. Berlin has expressed outrage over what it views as a threat to German personnel and operational integrity.
This incident is not isolated; China has previously been accused of using lasers to target military aircraft, particularly by the US, although they vehemently deny such actions. The potential dangers of lasers in military contexts include blinding pilots, raising major safety concerns.
Further complicating the regional dynamics, China's permanent military presence in the Gulf of Aden, established since it opened a base in Djibouti in 2017, has raised alarms among Western nations regarding Beijing's strategic plans in this pivotal maritime area.
The German foreign ministry responded by summoning the Chinese ambassador, labeling the incident as "entirely unacceptable." In turn, China’s EU envoy faced a similar summons. Beijing criticized Germany's portrayal, claiming it was "totally inconsistent with the facts," as described by spokesperson Mao Ning.
According to Germany, the laser was fired from a Chinese warship that was not in communication with passing aircraft, forcing the reconnaissance plane to abandon its mission and return to Djibouti. Berlin has expressed outrage over what it views as a threat to German personnel and operational integrity.
This incident is not isolated; China has previously been accused of using lasers to target military aircraft, particularly by the US, although they vehemently deny such actions. The potential dangers of lasers in military contexts include blinding pilots, raising major safety concerns.
Further complicating the regional dynamics, China's permanent military presence in the Gulf of Aden, established since it opened a base in Djibouti in 2017, has raised alarms among Western nations regarding Beijing's strategic plans in this pivotal maritime area.
