China Lasers German Aircraft in Red Sea

A Chinese warship targeted a German military aircraft with a laser during the European Union's Operation Aspides in the Red Sea. Germany's Foreign Office summoned China's ambassador, Deng Hongbo, to protest the incident, which endangered German personnel and disrupted the mission to protect commercial ships from the Houthis operating out of Yemen. The German Defense Ministry stated the aircraft was targeted without reason or prior contact, and the mission was aborted as a precaution. The aircraft, operated by a civilian commercial service provider with German military personnel, returned safely to a base in Djibouti and has since resumed operations. This event adds to European concerns about China's expanding military presence and influence.