Germany’s Foreign Office announced on Tuesday that it has summoned the Chinese ambassador to formally protest an incident involving a Chinese warship that targeted a German surveillance aircraft with a laser in the Red Sea.
The aircraft was operating as part of the EU mission Aspides, which aims to protect civilian vessels from attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Earlier this month, the German Defense Ministry reported that a Chinese warship, encountered multiple times in the region, directed a laser at the plane without warning or provocation.
A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, speaking anonymously due to government policy, warned that using the laser posed serious risks to both personnel and equipment.
As a safety measure, the aircraft’s mission was cut short, and it safely returned to its base in Djibouti. The crew was unharmed. The aircraft, operated by a civilian commercial company with German military personnel on board, has since resumed its operations in the Red Sea under the EU mission.
The German Foreign Office emphasized on social media that jeopardizing German personnel and disrupting their operations is completely unacceptable.
China had no immediate comment on the situation.
The EU mission’s role is strictly defensive, focusing on protecting civilian ships without engaging in military attacks. The southern Red Sea remains a high-risk area due to ongoing conflict.
On the same day, Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a prolonged attack on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, following their claim of sinking another vessel. This escalation threatens to intensify hostilities in this crucial maritime corridor.
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