At a recent airshow, Chinese attendees claimed they were denied access to a German military aircraft, prompting an apology from aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
The incident allegedly took place at the Singapore Airshow, which is recognized as a key event for commercial and military aviation in the region.
The allegations have spread widely on Chinese social media, sparking controversy.
The German government has yet to comment. Airbus apologized for “any inconvenience that may have been caused.”
A video that circulated widely over the weekend showed a Chinese blogger being asked about his nationality by a woman wearing Airbus identification badges.
The man was attempting to enter a Luftwaffe-owned Airbus A400M transport aircraft.
Upon learning he was Chinese, the woman said she needed to check his nationality because “the aircraft is German” and then denied him entry, citing “German regulations and military restrictions.”
Various elements of the video, including the aircraft in the background and the woman’s identification, seemed authentic.
Other Chinese tourists have made similar claims online about being denied access to the aircraft.
Another blogger said he was chased away by German military personnel and had lodged a formal complaint of “discrimination
ย against Chinese people” with the airshow organizers.
Comments on Weibo indicated that Chinese visitors were allowed to view military aircraft from other countries, criticising Airbus and the German military.
A representative from the German embassy in Singapore referred reporters to Airbus for questions about security and access to the aircraft, offering no comment on allegations involving German military personnel.
Airbus did not comment on the video but stated, “We immediately coordinated and communicated with the customer and our Airbus teams at the airshow to ensure the aircraft remained accessible to all attendees for the duration of the show. We sincerely apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
Airbus issued a similar apology on its official Weibo page.
The A400M is described by Airbus as the most advanced “airlifter” military transport aircraft currently available, capable of mid-air refuelling and transporting heavy equipment to bases, as well as delivering troops to unprepared small airstrips on the battlefield.
The incident comes amid growing European concern about the Chinese government’s acquisition of Western military technology.
Last year, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, warned about the potential for European technology to enhance China’s military capabilities.
