German Warships Await Orders for Possible Taiwan Strait Passage

Two German warships, their commander revealed, are awaiting orders from Berlin to determine whether they will be the first German naval vessels in decades to pass through the Taiwan Strait next month. Beijing has already rebuked the move.

Potential First Passage Since 2002:

While the U.S. and other nations, including Canada, have recently sent warships through the narrow strait, this would mark the first passage by the German navy through the Taiwan Strait since 2002.

China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan and the nearly 180 km (110 miles) wide waterway separating the two sides, strongly objects to such passages. Taiwan, however, asserts that only its people can determine their future and rejects China’s claims.

The Taiwan Strait is a crucial trade route, with about half of the world’s container ships passing through it. Both the United States and Taiwan regard it as an international waterway.

Awaiting the Decision from Berlin:

“The decision has not been taken yet,” Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, the German naval task group commander, told Reuters in a telephone interview. He noted that weather conditions would also influence the decision.

“We are showing our flag here to demonstrate that we stand by our partners and friends, our commitment to the rules-based order, the peaceful solution of territorial conflicts, and free and secure shipping lanes,” Schulz added.

China’s Response and Regional Tensions:

When asked about the possibility of German ships passing through the strait, China’s foreign ministry reiterated that Taiwan is an internal Chinese matter and that opposing Taiwan’s independence is key to regional stability.

“China has always been opposed to undermining China’s territorial sovereignty and security under the guise of freedom of navigation,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated in Beijing.

Before their potential passage through the strait, the German frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main are scheduled to dock in Tokyo on Tuesday. The ships will also visit South Korea and the Philippines and participate in regional exercises with France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.

Expanding Military Presence in the Region:

Over the last four years, China’s military has increased its activities in the Taiwan Strait, regularly condemning the presence of foreign warships, especially American, in the area as destabilizing.

Germany recognizes the strategic importance of China and Taiwan as major trade partners and has joined other Western nations in developing its military presence in the region amid growing concerns over Beijing’s territorial ambitions.

In 2021, a German warship sailed through the South China Sea for the first time in nearly 20 years. The Luftwaffe recently deployed fighter jets to Japan for the first joint drills.

Expected Response from China:

Schulz stated that no specific security measures are planned if the warships under his command cross the Taiwan Strait, describing it as a “normal passage” similar to navigating the English Channel or the North Sea. However, he anticipated that the passage would be closely monitored.

“I expect the Chinese navy and potentially the coastguard or maritime militia to escort us,” he said, noting that such actions are common practice.