Two German warships are awaiting orders from Berlin to determine whether they will sail through the Taiwan Strait next month. This move would be the first such passage by German naval vessels in decades and would draw a sharp rebuke from Beijing. While the United States and other nations, including Canada, have sent warships through the narrow strait in recent weeks, a German naval presence would be unprecedented since 2002.
China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, asserting jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, which is nearly 180 kilometers (110 miles) wide and connects the South China Sea. Taiwan strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims and insists that only its people have the right to determine their future. The Taiwan Strait serves as a critical trade route, with approximately half of global container ships passing through it. Both the United States and Taiwan consider the strait an international waterway.
The commander of the German naval task group, Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, told Reuters that the decision to sail through the Taiwan Strait has not been made yet, adding that weather conditions would be a factor. He emphasized that Germany’s presence in the region demonstrates its commitment to the rules-based international order, peaceful resolution of territorial disputes, and free and secure shipping lanes.
China’s foreign ministry responded to the potential passage, stating that Taiwan is an internal Chinese affair and that opposing Taiwan’s independence is crucial for regional stability. The ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, stressed that China opposes any actions that undermine its territorial sovereignty and security under the guise of freedom of navigation.
Prior to their potential passage through the Taiwan Strait, the frigate Baden-Württemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main are scheduled to visit Tokyo on Tuesday. They will also make stops in South Korea and the Philippines before participating in exercises in the region with France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.
Over the past four years, Beijing has significantly increased its military activities in the Taiwan Strait. Foreign warships, particularly those from the United States, regularly sail through the strait, actions that China condemns as undermining peace and stability in the region. Germany, which considers both China and Taiwan, with its substantial chip industry, as major trading partners, has joined other Western nations in expanding 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 almost 20 years. Last month, the German Luftwaffe deployed fighter jets to Japan for joint drills. Admiral Schulz stated that he is not planning any specific security measures should the warships under his command cross the Taiwan Strait, considering it a normal passage similar to sailing through the English Channel or the North Sea. However, he anticipates close monitoring during any passage.
“I expect the Chinese navy and potentially the coastguard or maritime militia to escort us,” he said, describing this as standard practice. The potential passage of German warships through the Taiwan Strait has further heightened tensions in the region, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.
