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.

China has dismissed Germany’s accusation that a Chinese warship targeted a German military aircraft with a laser, escalating tensions between the two nations. Earlier this month, Germany claimed that China sought to interfere with one of its military planes during an operation under the European Union’s mission to safeguard vessels in the Red Sea from missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Germany has accused the Chinese military of targeting one of its aircraft with a laser during an EU operation over the Red Sea.