Two German warship commanders stated that they are awaiting orders from Berlin to decide whether to cross the Taiwan Strait next month, a move that has drawn displeasure and accusations from Beijing.
According to a report by Reuters on Monday, the German frigate “Baden-Wuerttemberg” and tanker “Frankfurt am Main” are planning to sail through the Taiwan Strait, marking the first time German warships have crossed the strait since 2002.
In recent weeks, the United States, Canada, and other countries have also dispatched warships through the Taiwan Strait.
Vice Admiral Axel Schulz, commander of the German Navy’s task force, stated in a media interview, “No decision has been made yet.” He mentioned, “We are here to show our flag, to demonstrate that we stand with our partners and friends and reaffirm our commitment to a rules-based order, peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts, and free and secure sea lanes.”
The Taiwan Strait is a major trade route with approximately half of the world’s container ships passing through it. Both the United States and Taiwan assert that it is an international waterway.
However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims sovereignty over Taiwan and jurisdiction over the strait. In response, the Taiwanese government strongly opposes the CCP’s sovereignty claim, asserting that only the Taiwanese people can determine their future.
When asked about the possibility of German warships crossing the Taiwan Strait, CCP Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters, “China consistently opposes activities under the guise of ‘freedom of navigation’ that harm China’s territorial sovereignty and security.”
The CCP frequently criticizes foreign warships transiting the Taiwan Strait, labeling such actions as “disrupting peace and stability in the region.”
Prior to the potential transit of the Taiwan Strait next month, the two German warships plan to dock in Tokyo Port on Tuesday, August 19. They will also make stops in South Korea and the Philippines. They will participate in exercises in the region along with warships from France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.
Germany and China are major trading partners, but as the CCP’s ambitions in Taiwan and the South China Sea escalate, Germany has joined the ranks of Western countries to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2021, a German warship sailed through the South China Sea for the first time in nearly 20 years. In July of this year, the German Air Force deployed fighter jets in Japan and held joint military exercises with Japan for the first time.
Schulz indicated that if the warships under his command cross the Taiwan Strait, he does not intend to take any safety precautions, as such passages are considered “normal channels” like crossing the English Channel or the North Sea.
He expects this transit to be closely monitored, stating, “I expect the Chinese Navy and possible maritime law enforcement or naval militia will escort us.”