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Daily Tribune
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
China denies directing laser at German plane over Red Sea
Beijing dismissed yesterday 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". Berlin however on Wednesday insisted its findings were based on a "thorough investigation". "We expressed our position and our findings very clearly and very explicitly (to the Chinese ambassador), and of course also our expectation that incidents of this kind will not be repeated," foreign ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said. Defence ministry spokesman Mitko Mueller added that "we have clear evidence that a Chinese warship used a laser against our aircraft". When reporting the alleged incident on Tuesday, Berlin had 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.
Daily Tribune
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Cruises Past Saudi Arabia
TDT | Manama Beijing dismissed yesterday 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". Berlin however on Wednesday insisted its findings were based on a "thorough investigation". "We expressed our position and our findings very clearly and very explicitly (to the Chinese ambassador), and of course also our expectation that incidents of this kind will not be repeated," foreign ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said. Defence ministry spokesman Mitko Mueller added that "we have clear evidence that a Chinese warship used a laser against our aircraft". When reporting the alleged incident on Tuesday, Berlin had 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.
Roya News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
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". Berlin however on Wednesday insisted its findings were based on a "thorough investigation". "We expressed our position and our findings very clearly and very explicitly (to the Chinese ambassador), and of course also our expectation that incidents of this kind will not be repeated," foreign ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said. Defence ministry spokesman Mitko Mueller added that "we have clear evidence that a Chinese warship used a laser against our aircraft". When reporting the alleged incident on Tuesday, Berlin had 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.
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
EU summons Chinese ambassador over laser incident involving German aircraft
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: The flags of Germany, China and the European Union are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo BRUSSELS - 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. REUTERS
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
China says German plane laser claim ‘inconsistent with facts'
BEIJING: 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'. – AFP
