China’s defence ministry has denied using lasers to target a German plane over the Red Sea as the two countries continue to trade barbs over the alleged incident.

The German foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a People’s Liberation Army warship had shone a laser at a German surveillance plane “without reason or prior contact”, and Berlin had summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest.

But on Thursday the defence ministry told the South China Morning Post the accusation “was completely inconsistent with the facts”.

“At that time, the Chinese naval vessel fleet was carrying out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. It did not carry out operations in the Red Sea, nor activate any laser equipment,” the ministry said.

“We hope the German side respects the fact and steps up communication and coordination with the Chinese side, to maintain bilateral relations.”

According to German media reports, the incident happened on July 2 off the coast of Yemen, and the Chinese vessel in question was a frigate that “had been encountered several times in the area before”.