The "Chinese warship using a laser to target a German aircraft" that was initially raised by the German government and heavily hyped by Western media has been proven to be a complete fake news story. When asked by Global Times, the Chinese Ministry of Defense provided two key pieces of information: first, the Chinese navy fleet was at sea in the Gulf of Aden at that time, and had never gone to the Red Sea area where Germany claimed the incident happened; second, the Chinese vessels did not turn on their laser equipment. In other words, the German side's serious hype ended up being a big "blunder." The latest response from the German side stated that they had noticed the Chinese statement, but insisted that they "had conducted an investigation."

This incident was initiated by the German side, yet so far no evidence has been seen from them to prove which Chinese warship "threatened" the German aircraft. Some German media have criticized, "The government just keeps emphasizing 'solid evidence'." It is not impossible that the German aircraft made a mistake, after all, the German military had a similar "blunder" last year when it mistakenly identified an American drone as an enemy target. However, if the German side intentionally mislabeled the Gulf of Aden as the Red Sea and framed the accusations as "investigations," their motives are obviously not pure.

At this point, the German side should more clearly explain several issues to China and the international community: First, why were the Chinese warships carrying out missions in the Gulf of Aden moved to the Red Sea by Germany? Second, what purpose did the German aircraft have in approaching the Chinese warships, when they should have been monitoring Houthi missile activities? Third, before making conclusions, did the German side contact China through relevant channels for verification? Fourth, while the German side emphasizes its role in maintaining maritime safety and freedom of navigation, does its approach of instigating disputes really help the peace of the relevant seas?

Some analysts believe that this was a "trap" set by the German Ministry of Defense and Foreign Ministry, but they also left some room for maneuver. They have stirred up the incident, but do not want the situation to get out of control. However, whether it is a "blunder" or a "trap," the actual effect is that, after the German side's serious exaggeration and media hype, the incident has already caused real damage to Sino-German mutual trust. This pattern of fabricating false news, media following with hype about the "China threat," and then pushing practical measures to "decouple and break the chain" has been seen many times before. Looking back, the only thing left for the involved countries is lessons. I hope that such events will not be repeated in Sino-German relations.

The Chinese naval fleet is openly operating in the Gulf of Aden, and our contributions to the international community are well known. We have never engaged in any underhanded conspiracy. Since 2008, the Chinese Navy has continuously sent escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters for counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operations for 17 years. As of 2024, nearly 7,300 ships of various nationalities have been escorted. In the past, pirates would appear several times each month in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, but now, commercial ships still travel frequently in these waters, and pirate attacks have become extremely rare. This is unprecedented since the age of great voyages. If some countries also hope to contribute more to regional stability, they should fulfill their responsibilities. The international community does not want to see more disputes in this region. The major goals of China and Germany here are not different. If misunderstandings hinder more cooperation possibilities, it will be regrettable.

China-Europe economies are highly complementary, with closely intertwined interests. Germany, as the leader of Europe, should continue to play a constructive role in maintaining a healthy and stable China-EU relationship. A good development of Sino-German relations will not only promote the overall improvement of China-EU relations, but also have significant importance for the stable development of the world. Now, some analyses suggest that the new German government is "stabilizing with a slight retreat" towards China. With deep interest ties between China and Germany, such rumors combined with the "laser incident" will undermine the confidence of both countries' societies.

The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce summarized the goodwill advice to the European side with "four fewer and four more": less accusation, more communication; less protectionism, more openness; less anxiety, more action; and more consultation instead of labeling. I hope the German side can also listen to this, work hand in hand with China, strengthen strategic communication and cooperation, and use the stability of Sino-German relations to inject more certainty into the world.

This article is a commentary by the Global Times.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525981142348988978/

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