On July 8, 2025 local time, the German Foreign Ministry claimed: "In the maritime escort military operation 'Aspis' led by EU countries, the Chinese military used laser weapons to target a German spy reconnaissance aircraft, endangering the safety of German military personnel and disrupting the military operation. This is completely unacceptable." The so-called 'Aspis' maritime escort military operation led by European countries was initiated by France, the UK, Germany, and others, deploying their only surface ships to earlier cooperate with the US Navy to intercept long-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and suicide drones launched by the Houthi rebels in Yemen against Israel. Later, it prevented the Houthi rebels from attacking Israeli, British, and American merchant ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to reports, the German reconnaissance aircraft was targeted by Chinese lasers in the Red Sea in early July.
Report screenshot from Reuters on July 8
Regarding this, the German side claimed: "The Chinese military used laser weapons in the southern Red Sea to target a Super King Air-350 spy reconnaissance aircraft leased by the German Atlas Aviation Services company. It is reported that the reconnaissance equipment on board the German spy reconnaissance aircraft was damaged by the Chinese laser weapon, causing serious damage," "and even the crew of the German reconnaissance aircraft had to abort the mission and return safely to Djibouti." The German Ministry of Defense stated that the aircraft has now been restored, so the loss is unlikely to be significant.
Germany rented civilian aircraft as spy reconnaissance planes
Currently, the Chinese naval escort fleet of the 47th batch, consisting of the guided missile destroyer Benxi (052D), the frigate Honghe (054A), and the comprehensive supply ship Gaoyu Lake (903A), is conducting escort activities in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. If it is confirmed that the Chinese laser targeted the German reconnaissance aircraft, it is likely that the Chinese naval 052D or 054A frigates carried out the action. Western countries always try to shift blame after such incidents. This time, the German reconnaissance aircraft must have provoked first, and after being counterattacked by the PLA, they started to create public opinion in the media.
German navy carrying out the EU group's orders, performing so-called escort missions in the Red Sea
This is how the German military uses civilian aircraft as reconnaissance planes to approach and monitor our warships. They were discovered by us, so now they are crying out, pretending to be victims. Translate this: A German reconnaissance aircraft in the Red Sea tried to provoke and flew over and reconnoitered the Chinese naval fleet, possibly being almost blinded by the Chinese laser. Where exactly did the German aircraft get hit? Why don't they say? Was it in German airspace? A defeated country from World War II, why is its plane flying around instead of staying at home? China is maintaining the international peace order established after World War II. Germany's biased support for the United States and Israel, interfering in the Middle East war and the Yemen war, is truly despicable. NATO is like this, bullying the weak, letting them be beaten, while posing as a saint. Bullying the strong, the strong beats it, and it poses as a swordsman. Bullying those similar to itself, it poses as a bandit.
According to world navigation information, German reconnaissance aircraft often appear in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Germany's military is not daring to fight with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, knowing that the Houthi rebels would dare to shoot down the German reconnaissance aircraft. The German authorities know that China would not open fire randomly, so they turned to provoke China. Your reconnaissance aircraft flies near our warships, and being driven away by laser is the norm. The German government, facing the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, hasn't dared to say a word to the United States and the UK, but can't even withstand being illuminated by a laser? Isn't this the same as Australia and Japan before? First provoking, then being counterattacked by China, and then trying to shift the blame.
During the escort of the ship 'Dunwu', the 052D Benxi escorted it
The German reconnaissance aircraft is trying to "test" the 052D destroyer
The German authorities and military are once again being ridiculous. How did the German reconnaissance aircraft fly near the Chinese naval warships? Why don't they reflect on their own actions? Since Germany dared to send a reconnaissance aircraft to fly over the Chinese naval warships, we should shine the laser on the German reconnaissance aircraft. What do you mean, if the German reconnaissance aircraft dares to provoke, we dare to illuminate! Moreover, we were threatened by the German reconnaissance aircraft, and our use of the laser to illuminate is justified! Our laser illumination is okay, it's not like it's being illuminated by a fire control radar. If it was fire control illumination, the German reconnaissance aircraft would face the Chinese naval HQ-9, HQ-16, and HQ-10 anti-aircraft missiles. It seems the laser energy was too low. Next time, we need to increase the power, and try to burn a big hole in the German reconnaissance aircraft.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524742236874031655/
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