Germany summons China’s ambassador after aircraft lasered over Red Sea

Germany’s Foreign Office said Tuesday it has summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest after a Chinese warship used a laser against a German aircraft in the Red Sea. The surveillance aircraft was part of the EU mission Aspides, which is intended to better defend civilian ships against attacks by Houthi rebels based in Yemen.

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It was lasered earlier this month “without any reason or prior contact” by a Chinese warship that had been encountered several times in the area, the German Defence Ministry said.

“By using the laser, the warship accepted the risk of endangering people and material,” a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

The ministry said, as a precaution, the aircraft’s mission was aborted.