Chinese laser attack on German aircraft
Chinese attack on a German aircraft in the Red Sea! The German government has summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
"The Chinese military has targeted a German aircraft in the EU operation #ASPIDES using a laser ," the Foreign Office writes on X. "The endangerment of German personnel and the disruption of the operation are completely unacceptable. The Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office today."
The formal summoning of an ambassador is considered a sharp diplomatic tool with which the government of the host country signals a clear discontent.
BILD learned from security sources: The attack took place on July 2 near the coast of Yemen. During a routine flight as part of the EU ASPIDES mission, a German reconnaissance aircraft over the Red Sea was blinded without warning by a Chinese warship with a laser.
He continued: “By using the laser, the warship accepted a risk to people and equipment.”
The crew aborted the mission and returned safely to Djibouti. The East African country serves as a supply port for EU member states within the framework of ASPIDES.
The aircraft attacked appears to be a military-spec Beechcraft 350 – a "flying eye" used by Germany for reconnaissance over the Red Sea. The aircraft was operated by a civil service provider, but Bundeswehr personnel were involved.
In 2018, lasers were allegedly aimed at US military aircraft from a Chinese military base in Djibouti, resulting in minor injuries to several pilots. The US officially protested, while China denied the allegations.
However, these "blinding lasers" are not used to acquire targets and then fire missiles. According to security sources, they are used solely to disrupt aircraft. Shining a laser beam is considered at least a threatening gesture in the military.
China's ambassador to Germany is Deng Hongbo (60). He has represented the vast empire in Berlin since October 2024.
BILD learned from German diplomatic circles: The meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Berlin took place on Tuesday morning.
"We will not accept that German soldiers are put at risk. The Chinese actions were completely unacceptable," the newspaper told BILD. This was precisely what the ambassador was "made clear today."
Operation ASPIDES (Greek for "shields") is an EU military naval mission launched in 2024. Its objective is to ensure free sea lanes for shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) are participating in this EU mission in the Red Sea, including regular airspace surveillance flights. The aircraft affected by the attack is now back in service.
www.bild.de
Chinese attack on a German aircraft in the Red Sea! The German government has summoned the Chinese ambassador to the Federal Foreign Office (AA).
"The Chinese military has targeted a German aircraft in the EU operation #ASPIDES using a laser ," the Foreign Office writes on X. "The endangerment of German personnel and the disruption of the operation are completely unacceptable. The Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office today."
The formal summoning of an ambassador is considered a sharp diplomatic tool with which the government of the host country signals a clear discontent.
BILD learned from security sources: The attack took place on July 2 near the coast of Yemen. During a routine flight as part of the EU ASPIDES mission, a German reconnaissance aircraft over the Red Sea was blinded without warning by a Chinese warship with a laser.
Bundeswehr's "Flying Eye" attacked
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense told BILD: "The MSP aircraft, which was used for maritime surveillance in the Red Sea, was lasered during a routine mission over the Red Sea as part of Aspides by a Chinese warship, which had already been encountered in the area several times, without any reason and without prior contact."He continued: “By using the laser, the warship accepted a risk to people and equipment.”
The crew aborted the mission and returned safely to Djibouti. The East African country serves as a supply port for EU member states within the framework of ASPIDES.
The aircraft attacked appears to be a military-spec Beechcraft 350 – a "flying eye" used by Germany for reconnaissance over the Red Sea. The aircraft was operated by a civil service provider, but Bundeswehr personnel were involved.
It is not the first laser attack by China
The military has repeatedly used lasers against Western aircraft to blind pilots and disrupt the aircraft's electronics.In 2018, lasers were allegedly aimed at US military aircraft from a Chinese military base in Djibouti, resulting in minor injuries to several pilots. The US officially protested, while China denied the allegations.
However, these "blinding lasers" are not used to acquire targets and then fire missiles. According to security sources, they are used solely to disrupt aircraft. Shining a laser beam is considered at least a threatening gesture in the military.
China's ambassador to Germany is Deng Hongbo (60). He has represented the vast empire in Berlin since October 2024.
BILD learned from German diplomatic circles: The meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Berlin took place on Tuesday morning.
"We will not accept that German soldiers are put at risk. The Chinese actions were completely unacceptable," the newspaper told BILD. This was precisely what the ambassador was "made clear today."
Operation ASPIDES (Greek for "shields") is an EU military naval mission launched in 2024. Its objective is to ensure free sea lanes for shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) are participating in this EU mission in the Red Sea, including regular airspace surveillance flights. The aircraft affected by the attack is now back in service.
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www.bild.de
