Berlin Summons Chinese Envoy Over Laser Attack on German Aircraft

The country of Germany recalled the Chinese ambassador on the basis of allegations that it had placed a military plane at risk because of a Chinese warship.

German surveillance aircraft was laser-targeted without any notice or reason as part of the European Union-led ASPIDES operation to secure the Red Sea sea lanes against Houthi militia attack. The foreign ministry in Berlin summoned the ambassador of China, in reaction to the incident.

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Applying a laser, the warship took a risk to human beings and material and the plane is supposed to be taken back to its base in Djibouti as precautionary measure and it landed without damages as a spokesman of defense ministry of Germany declared on Tuesday.

Representatives of China in the defense and foreign affairs ministries declined to comment immediately.

The event contributes towards rising tensions in Europe and China since the government in Beijing has recently resolved to cancel the series of a two-day summit with EU leaders scheduled in the later part of the month.

Propeller-driven airplane (referred to as a multi-sensor platform) serves as the flying eye of the mission and adds to long-range monitoring of the sea area. Operation has since been ongoing as indicated by the German defense ministry spokesman.

The spokesman of the defense ministry said that the laser incident occurred at the start of July.

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This coincided virtually with a diplomatic visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who has been to Brussels, Germany and France.

On July 4, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with Wang in Berlin in bilateral talks. He attacked China on its trade policy after the talks.

“Unfortunately our companies are currently facing one-sided and not very transparent export restrictions for rare earths,” Wadephul said Thursday evening in the German capital. “This uncertainty is damaging our trade relations and also damaging China’s image in Germany as a reliable trading partner overall.”

Wang, who shared a platform with Wadephul, demanded that rare earth was a dual- use commodity that had to be regulated. This is our sovereignty he said.

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