Latest news with #laserincident
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Beijing denies German accusation that PLA laser-targeted aircraft patrolling Red Sea
Beijing has denied Germany's allegation that a Chinese warship had targeted a German aircraft in the Red Sea with a laser. The German foreign ministry said on Tuesday the aircraft was taking part in the European Union's Aspides mission to protect marine traffic in the waterway, while the People's Liberation Army naval vessel laser-targeted it 'without reason or prior contact'. The Chinese ambassador to Berlin was summoned for the incident the ministry described as 'endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation' and 'entirely unacceptable'. In response, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the accusation 'does not match the facts that China has gathered'. 'It is important to increase communication in a timely way and be fact-based to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation,' spokesperson Mao Ning said. Mao did not elaborate on China's version of the incident but defended the PLA navy's presence in the region.
Reuters
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
EU summons Chinese ambassador over laser incident involving German aircraft
BRUSSELS, July 9 (Reuters) - The European Union has summoned the Chinese ambassador following an incident in which China's military allegedly targeted a German aircraft with a laser during an EU security mission in the Red Sea. China has denied the accusation. According to Germany, a Chinese warship used a laser to target a German patrol aircraft taking part in Operation ASPIDES, the EU-led mission tasked with protecting commercial vessels from Houthi rebel attacks. The incident reportedly occurred in early July during a routine flight, with no prior warning or communication from the Chinese vessel. "The Chinese military's use of a laser to target a German aircraft patrolling with EU Operation ASPIDES in the Red Sea is dangerous and unacceptable," said Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the EU's Foreign and Security Policy. "This act put personnel at risk and compromised the aircraft's mission." While German officials have reported multiple encounters with the same Chinese warship in the region, Beijing has rejected the claim, saying there is no evidence of hostile action. China has previously denied accusations of firing or pointing lasers at U.S. planes. Incidents involving a European NATO member and China are more unusual.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
China rejects German claim it targeted military plane with laser
China has disputed Germany's claim that it targeted a military plane with a laser fired from a warship, as a diplomatic spat between the two countries accused China of attempting to disrupt one of its aircraft earlier this month as it was taking part in European Union-led operations aimed at protecting ships in the Red Sea from missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi rebel German foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador and described the incident as "entirely unacceptable". China's EU envoy has also been summoned by the bloc, Reuters has pushed back, saying Germany's account was "totally inconsistent with the facts known by the Chinese side". On Tuesday, Germany said a reconnaissance plane was targeted as it flew over the Red Sea, where several European countries have been contributing to surveillance and defensive efforts since early 2024 to protect ships from regular attacks launched from laser was fired from a Chinese warship, which had been spotted several times and had made no communication with the passing aircraft, Germany plane was forced to abandon its mission and return to a military base in the East African nation of Djibouti as a precaution, according to the foreign has reacted furiously to the incident, accusing China of "endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation".The Chinese government responded on Wednesday, with spokesperson Mao Ning telling a press conference that its navy had been carrying out "escort operations" in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of said Germany and China should "take a fact-based attitude and strengthen communication in a timely manner to avoid misunderstanding and misjudgement".China has been accused of using lasers to target military aircraft before, primarily by the US. China has denied doing can be used to blind pilots, and a new class of powerful lasers capable of disabling targets in the air are under development by militaries around the established a permanent military presence in the region in 2017 when it opened a base in Djibouti, which Beijing says is used for anti-piracy and freedom of maritime navigation governments have expressed concerns about China's ambitions in the region since opening the base in Djibouti, where the US, Japan, France and others also have military installations. It is located at a strategically important pinch point leading on to the Red Sea and Suez Canal - one of the world's most important shipping routes.
CNA
09-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
China says German plane laser claim 'inconsistent with facts'
BEIJING: Beijing dismissed on Wednesday (Jul 9) claims by Berlin that the Chinese military had directed a laser at a German aircraft over the Red Sea as "completely inconsistent with the facts". The foreign ministry in Berlin said on Tuesday that a German aircraft participating in a "routine" EU-led mission to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea had been targeted by a laser, endangering personnel. Its counterpart in Beijing rejected the accusation. "Both sides should adopt a pragmatic attitude, strengthen communication in a timely manner, and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. She said Chinese naval vessels had been carrying out escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters, "contributing to the safety of international shipping lanes". Describing the incident as "entirely unacceptable", Berlin said the reconnaissance aircraft involved had been forced to abandon its mission and returned to a base in Djibouti. It was not immediately clear whether the laser was a weapon or a laser guidance system. The Bild daily said the incident took place on Jul 2 near the Yemeni coast and involved a "blinding laser" aimed at disrupting the operation of an aircraft. China has been accused several times in recent years of using lasers in similar incidents. It established its first permanent overseas naval base in Djibouti in 2016, reportedly at a cost of US$590 million and strategically placed between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Beijing has said the base is used to resupply navy ships, support regional peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and combat piracy, although its proximity to a US military base has raised concerns of espionage. The Philippines said in February 2023 that a Chinese military vessel had used a military-grade laser against one of its patrol boats in the disputed South China Sea.
Al Arabiya
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
China says German plane laser claim ‘inconsistent with facts'
Beijing dismissed on Wednesday claims by Berlin that the Chinese military had directed a laser at a German aircraft over the Red Sea as 'completely inconsistent with the facts.' The foreign ministry in Berlin said on Tuesday that a German aircraft participating in a 'routine' EU-led mission to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea had been targeted by a laser, endangering personnel. Its counterpart in Beijing rejected the accusation. 'Both sides should adopt a pragmatic attitude, strengthen communication in a timely manner, and avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations,' Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. She said Chinese naval vessels had been carrying out escort duties in the Gulf of Aden and in Somali waters, 'contributing to the safety of international shipping lanes.' Describing the incident as 'entirely unacceptable,' Berlin said the reconnaissance aircraft involved had been forced to abandon its mission and returned to a base in Djibouti. It was not immediately clear whether the laser was a weapon or a laser guidance system. The Bild daily said the incident took place on July 2 near the Yemeni coast and involved a 'blinding laser' aimed at disrupting the operation of an aircraft. China has been accused several times in recent years of using lasers in similar incidents. It established its first permanent overseas naval base in Djibouti in 2016, reportedly at a cost of $590 million and strategically placed between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Beijing has said the base is used to resupply navy ships, support regional peacekeeping and humanitarian operations and combat piracy, although its proximity to a US military base has raised concerns of espionage. The Philippines said in February 2023 a Chinese military vessel had used a military-grade laser against one of its patrol boats in the disputed South China Sea. In 2022, Australia said the Chinese army had directed a laser at one of its surveillance aircraft in an 'act of intimidation.'
