CHINA RESPONDS TO REPORTS OF TARGETING A GERMAN MILLITARY AIRCRAFT

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 deepens. Germany 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 group.
The 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 reports. Beijing has pushed back, saying Germany's account was "totally inconsistent with the facts known by the Chinese side".
On Tuesday July 8 2025, 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 Yemen.
The laser was fired from a Chinese warship, which had been spotted several times and had made no communication with the passing aircraft, Germany said. The 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 ministry.
Berlin 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 Somalia.