German ships await decision on Taiwan Strait passage

Two German warships are awaiting orders from Berlin to determine whether they will make the first German naval passage through the Taiwan Strait in decades next month, potentially provoking a response from Beijing.

Although the US and other countries, including Canada, have recently navigated the strait, it would be the German navy's first transit since 2002, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and claims jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, a vital waterway about 180 km (110 miles) wide that separates the island from the mainland and forms part of the South China Sea. Taiwan, however, rejects China's sovereignty claims and maintains that only its own people can decide their future.

The Taiwan Strait is a critical 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. Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, the commander of the naval task group, told Reuters that no final decision has been made yet and that weather conditions will also influence the decision.

"We are flying our flag to affirm our support for our partners and friends, and to uphold our commitment to a rules-based international order, peaceful resolution of territorial disputes, and the protection of free and secure shipping lanes," said Rear Admiral Axel Schulz.

In response to the German ships' potential transit, China's foreign ministry emphasized that Taiwan is a domestic issue and that maintaining stability requires opposing Taiwan's independence. "China firmly opposes any actions that undermine our territorial sovereignty and security under the pretext of freedom of navigation," stated ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in Beijing.

Before potentially crossing the Taiwan Strait next month, the German frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main will visit Tokyo on Tuesday, with further stops planned in South Korea and the Philippines. They are set to participate in joint exercises with France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.

Beijing has intensified its military activity in the Taiwan Strait over the past four years. Foreign warship passages, particularly by American vessels, are frequently condemned by Beijing as detrimental to regional peace and stability.

Germany, which considers both China and Taiwan significant trade partners, has expanded its military presence in response to Beijing’s growing territorial assertiveness. In 2021, a German warship made its first voyage through the South China Sea in nearly two decades. Last month, the Luftwaffe deployed fighter jets to Japan for joint exercises.

Schulz noted that he does not anticipate specific security measures for the Taiwan Strait passage, describing it as a routine operation akin to navigating through the English Channel or North Sea. However, he expects the Chinese navy, and possibly the coast guard or maritime militia, to monitor the transit closely, which he regards as standard practice.