Beijing has rejected the German government’s allegation that a Chinese vessel aimed a laser at a military jet over the Red Sea.

The information provided by Germany did not correspond with the facts known to the Chinese side, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing on Wednesday.

According to Ms Mao, the Chinese Navy was conducting escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and in the waters off Somalia, fulfilling its responsibility to maintain regional security.

Germany this week summoned the Chinese ambassador to Berlin over an incident that occurred in early July.

According to the German account, a Chinese warship aimed a laser at a German reconnaissance aircraft without any reason or prior contact.

The aircraft was travelling over the Red Sea as part of the EU’s Aspides military operation to help protect merchant ships from attacks by the Yemeni Houthi militia.

In comments to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on China to explain its actions and said that Berlin would oppose any “irregular behaviour by China”.

(dpa/NAN)