International-News

Berlin summons Chinese ambassador: laser aimed at German aircraft on EU mission

The incident occurred during Operation Aspides in the Gulf: ‘It is unacceptable to put our personnel at risk.’ This would not be the first provocation

‘Chinese military personnel targeted’ a German aircraft involved in the European Aspides operation by pointing a laser at it. This was reported by the German Foreign Ministry on X, announcing that the Chinese ambassador had been summoned to Berlin for immediate clarification.

‘Endangering our personnel and obstructing the operation is totally unacceptable,’ the German ministry said.

The news was initially reported by Bild, which cites German security sources and states that this is not the first such incident attributed to Chinese military forces.

Operation Aspides is a European Union naval mission, launched in 2024, which aims to protect freedom of navigation along major trade routes, particularly in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, areas often the scene of geopolitical tensions.

The German authorities are now seeking official explanations from Beijing, while Brussels may examine the incident at EU level in the coming days.

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