BEIJING — China on Wednesday dismissed Germany’s allegation that a Chinese naval vessel targeted a German reconnaissance aircraft with a laser during an EU operation in the Red Sea, calling the claim “fully inconsistent with the facts.”
Berlin summoned China’s ambassador on Tuesday after the German plane, chartered for the EU’s ASPIDES mission, flew near a Chinese frigate off Yemen’s coast. Germany says the laser exposure endangered the crew and violated international norms.
At a live-streamed briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning defended China’s naval escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia, saying they “fulfill responsibilities as a major country and contribute to the safety of shipping lines.” She urged both sides to pursue “fact-based and timely” dialogue to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations.
The ASPIDES mission, launched in 2024, aims to protect one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors from attacks by Houthi militants, who have targeted commercial vessels to pressure Western support for Israel’s campaign in Gaza. About 700 German military personnel are currently assigned to the operation, and the German parliament recently extended their deployment through October 2025.
Diplomatic channels are now expected to clarify the circumstances of the incident and defuse rising tensions between Berlin and Beijing as both sides stress the importance of maintaining maritime security in the region.
