EU summons Chinese ambassador over laser attack on military jet
Photo: The European Union summoned the Chinese ambassador over the laser attack (Getty Images)
The European Union, following Germany's lead, has summoned the Chinese ambassador over an incident involving the use of a laser against a German military aircraft during a security mission, The Guardian reports.
"The European Union has also 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," the statement says.
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According to Germany's Foreign Ministry, Chinese military forces aimed a laser at a German aircraft, endangering the crew's lives and putting at risk the execution of the international ASPIDES mission in the Red Sea.
"Chinese military forces used a laser to target a German aircraft during the EU operation," the German Foreign Ministry stated.
Berlin called China's actions completely unacceptable. In response to the incident, the Chinese ambassador to Germany was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to provide an explanation.
Operation ASPIDES is a European Union maritime security mission that officially began in February 2024. It is being conducted in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waters with the goal of protecting international shipping from Houthi attacks.
The mission's objective is to ensure freedom of navigation and defend EU and allied commercial vessels from attacks, primarily missile and drone strikes by the Houthis, which intensified at the end of 2023.
