• Germany claims a Chinese warship targeted its reconnaissance aircraft with a laser in the Red Sea.
• The incident occurred during the EU's Operation ASPIDES aimed at protecting shipping routes.
• China disputes the allegations, describing them as "inconsistent with facts."
• The German aircraft was forced to abandon its mission and return to Djibouti.
• This adds to escalating tensions regarding China's military presence in critical shipping areas.

Germany has accused a Chinese military vessel of using a laser to target a German reconnaissance aircraft during a European Union-led maritime security operation in the Red Sea. The German Foreign Ministry emphasized that such actions are "entirely unacceptable" and constitute a threat to personnel involved in the ASPIDES mission, which aims at protecting maritime traffic from attacks, particularly by Yemen's Houthi rebels, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

The incident reportedly took place on July 2, when the German aircraft, identified as a reconnaissance plane operated by a civilian contractor, was conducting a routine mission over the Red Sea, close to a Chinese frigate. Following the targeting, the aircraft was forced to abort its mission and return to its base in Djibouti, as confirmed by multiple sources, including Anadolu Agency and BBC.

China has denied the allegations, asserting that Germany's claims do not align with the facts known to its military. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the accusations were "inconsistent" and called for improved communication to prevent misunderstandings. This response was reported by Newsweek and South China Morning Post.

Germany's mission is part of a broader initiative that has seen approximately 700 soldiers deployed to the Red Sea for maritime security, amid rising tensions following attacks on commercial vessels by the Houthis. The recent incident has fueled concerns about China's growing military capabilities in strategically vital regions, as highlighted by Newsweek and corroborated by South China Morning Post.