Germany summoned the Chinese ambassador to the foreign ministry on Tuesday after saying China's military had laser-targeted a German aircraft taking part in an EU operation in the Red Sea, an account Beijing denied.

The Chinese military employed a laser targeting a German aircraft in the EU operation #ASPIDES. Endangering German personnel & disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable. The Chinese ambassador was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office today.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reacted angrily to the use of a laser by a Chinese warship against a German reconnaissance aircraft. "I am more than irritated by this incident," Wadephul told the RND media group for a story published on Wednesday.