Two German warships are set to sail through the sensitive Taiwan Strait in the middle of this month, making this the first German naval passage through the waterway in 22 years. The news, reported by Spiegel magazine, has drawn criticism from Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the strait as its territory.
While the United States and other nations, including Canada, have sent warships through the strait in recent weeks, this would be the German navy’s first passage since 2002. Germany’s defense ministry declined to comment on the matter.
Spiegel cited unnamed sources as saying that Beijing would not be formally notified of the German ships’ passage. This, according to the sources, is intended to emphasize that Berlin views the trip as a routine operation.
China considers the nearly 180-km (110-mile) wide Taiwan Strait its own territory, despite Taiwan’s strong objections and its assertion that only its people can determine their future. The strait is a major trade route, with about half of the world’s container ships passing through it. Both the United States and Taiwan maintain that the waterway is international.
The commander of the German naval task group, Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, previously told Reuters that the passage would demonstrate Germany’s commitment to a rules-based order and the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes. The two German vessels are currently participating in exercises in the region alongside France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.
Sailings through the Taiwan Strait by foreign warships are routinely condemned by Beijing, which accuses these actions of “undermining peace and stability” in the region. Germany, a major trade partner of both China and Taiwan, has joined other Western nations in expanding its military presence in the region in response to China’s growing territorial ambitions.
