09.07.2025, Berlin.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz complained about an incident in the Red Sea, during which a Chinese warship allegedly used a laser against a German reconnaissance aircraft, during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on July 9, reports the German newspaper Oldenburger Onlinezeitung.
Merz condemned the incident in the Red Sea, where, according to the German federal government, a Chinese military vessel allegedly targeted a German reconnaissance plane with a laser.
“A possible laser attack on a military reconnaissance aircraft is absolutely unacceptable. I won’t make a final judgment today, but such incidents show that we also have to deal with these kinds of developments,” said the German leader, adding that he expects a detailed report on the matter from Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
During his speech, NATO Secretary General once again stated that he sees threats emanating from both Russia and China. According to Rutte, the risk is growing that Chinese leader Xi Jinping may launch military action in Taiwan, potentially in coordination with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the goal of having the Russian army block Europe’s unified forces.
Merz, in turn, emphasized the need to increase NATO’s defense spending, a move that was approved at the recent summit in The Hague.
“We are ready to fulfill our commitments, not to please NATO, but to strengthen our collective security. If Germany had not taken this path, the NATO summit in The Hague would likely have unfolded quite differently,” said the German Chancellor.
Rutte also stated that the alliance must boost its own weapons production. He noted that countries like Poland, Romania, and Estonia are buying arms from South Korea because production in Europe or the US takes too long.
Rutte explained that NATO needs to ramp up military and defense production.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
