Germany summoned the Chinese ambassador to Berlin on Tuesday after a Chinese warship allegedly directed a laser at a German surveillance aircraft taking part in a European Union maritime security operation over the Red Sea, escalating tensions between the two countries amid concerns over China's military activity in international waters.
The incident, which occurred in early July, involved a German-operated reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Operation Aspides, the EU's mission to safeguard commercial shipping lanes from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The aircraft, known as a Multi-Sensor Platform (MSP), is operated by a civilian contractor with German military personnel on board.
According to the German Defense Ministry, the aircraft was "lasered without any reason or prior contact" by a Chinese warship previously encountered multiple times in the area. "By using the laser, the warship accepted the risk of endangering people and material," a spokesperson for the ministry said on condition of anonymity. The surveillance flight was aborted and safely diverted to Djibouti as a precaution. The aircraft has since resumed operations in the Red Sea.
Germany's Foreign Office condemned the action on X, formerly Twitter, declaring, "Endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable." The ministry added that it had formally summoned China's ambassador to address the matter. As of Tuesday, Beijing has not issued a public statement or comment.
The aircraft targeted was part of a German military contingent of up to 700 personnel supporting the EU-led Operation Aspides, which includes naval contributions from Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The operation is defensive in nature and explicitly avoids offensive engagement.
German outlet Der Spiegel reported the aircraft was likely lasered as it neared a Chinese frigate operating in the region. The Chinese military had announced the deployment of its 47th naval escort taskforce-including the destroyer Baotou and supply ship Gaoyouhu-to the Gulf of Aden in June for escort duties and ship-to-ship replenishment.
The defense ministry emphasized that the MSP, which has been active in the region since October, provides critical reconnaissance data to allied forces securing vital maritime trade routes. "The data collected significantly contributes to awareness for partners," the ministry stated.
Incidents involving Chinese forces and NATO aircraft have occurred in the Pacific, but direct encounters with European militaries remain rare. In 2020, the U.S. Pacific Fleet reported that a Chinese warship fired a laser at a U.S. patrol aircraft west of Guam-an allegation Beijing denied.
