Germany has accused a Chinese warship of targeting a German military aircraft with a laser during a reconnaissance mission in the Red Sea. The incident occurred on Monday, when a German Dornier 228 aircraft was monitoring Houthi activities in the area as part of the EU’s Operation Aspides.
According to a German military spokesperson, the Chinese vessel “irradiated” the plane with a laser, but no injuries or damage were reported. The German military condemned the act as “not acceptable,” adding that the laser was not a measuring or range-finding device but a clear attempt to interfere with the aircraft.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the incident as “highly unusual and dangerous,” especially given that the aircraft was operating in international airspace. The German foreign ministry has contacted Chinese authorities for an explanation.
The Chinese embassy in Berlin responded by saying they were not aware of the incident but stressed that Chinese forces always operate in line with international law. China maintains a naval base in Djibouti and regularly deploys warships to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.