The Chinese Foreign Ministry today rejected the accusations of the German Foreign Ministry that the Chinese armed forces aimed a laser at a German plane participating in the European Union's operation to protect maritime security in the Red Sea "Aspides" (in ancient Greek "shield" - editor's note), as "completely unfounded based on the facts known to the Chinese side", Reuters reported, BTA reported.
"The People's Liberation Army Navy of China carried out escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and in the waters around Somalia, fulfilled its duties as a major country and contributed to maintaining the security of international waterways," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press conference after being asked about the allegations.
China and Germany should "rely on fact-based relations and increase communication in a timely manner to avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments," Mao stressed.
The German Defense Ministry said that the plane, which was participating in the EU mission to protect international sea lanes in the Red Sea, was part of from a multi-sensor platform or "flying eye" to scout the area since October. A Chinese warship, which has been seen several times in the area, pointed a laser at the plane without reason or prior communication during a routine flight, a ministry spokesman said. The incident occurred in early July, Reuters noted.
"By using the laser, the warship put the safety of personnel and materials at risk," the spokesman said, adding that the mission was aborted as a precaution and the plane landed safely at a base in Djibouti. Since then, the deployment of the multi-sensor platform within the "Aspides" has been resumed, he added.
The multi-sensor platform is operated by civilian commercial operations and involves personnel from the Bundeswehr (German armed forces), the ministry said, adding that the data collected significantly contributes to the awareness of partners.
China has previously denied accusations that it has aimed lasers at US aircraft. Incidents involving a European NATO member and China are more unusual. In 2020, the US Navy's Pacific Fleet said a Chinese warship used a laser against a US naval patrol plane flying in international airspace west of Guam. China said at the time that this did not correspond to the facts, Reuters recalls.
The incident occurred at a time when concerns are growing in the EU about Chinese influence in the field of critical technologies and security infrastructure in Europe. The "Aspides" mission contributes to protecting freedom of navigation and maritime security, particularly in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf within the framework of the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy, Reuters notes.