In 2023, the Philippine coast guard accused its Chinese counterpart of deploying a high-powered laser against one of its ships near the Philippine-controlled Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, "causing temporary blindness" to some crew members. China routinely denies the accusations.

Germany said the laser was fired from a Chinese warship, pictured here off the coast of Taiwan last year China has disputed Germany's claim that it targeted a military plane with a laser fired from a warship,

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.