Berlin has condemned an incident in which a Chinese military vessel allegedly targeted a laser at a German aircraft involved in an EU-led mission aimed at safeguarding marine traffic in the Red Sea. The German foreign ministry expressed its outrage on X, labeling the act as “entirely unacceptable” and highlighting the potential danger posed to German personnel. In response to the incident, Beijing’s ambassador to Germany has been summoned for discussions.
The German aircraft, described as a “multi-sensor platform,” serves as a reconnaissance “flying eye” and was conducting a routine operation in the Red Sea when the laser targeting occurred. A spokesperson for the German defense ministry stated that the targeting was executed “without reason or prior contact” and deemed the actions of the Chinese vessel as a significant risk to German personnel and equipment. Following the encounter, the mission of the aircraft was aborted, resulting in its return to a base in Djibouti.
While the specifics of the laser’s nature—whether it was a weapon or a laser guidance system—remain unclear, the incident reportedly took place on July 2, near the Yemeni coast. This development comes amidst ongoing tensions in the region, where approximately 700 German soldiers are stationed as part of the EU’s Aspides mission to protect shipping routes from attacks, particularly those linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
On the previous day, the Houthis had claimed responsibility for their first attack of the year on a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged ship. The group has increasingly targeted Israeli positions and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the escalation of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, asserting that these actions are intended to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Earlier this year, the Houthis had briefly paused their attacks during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza, making the recent incidents particularly notable in the context of rising tensions and maritime security concerns.
