German Navy Warships To Pass Through Taiwan Strait For First Time In 22 Years
Germany is preparing for an unusual military move in the Indo-Pacific region with two of its warships are scheduled to sail through the controversial Taiwan Strait.
This is the first time in 22 years that German Naval vessels will transit through the 180-kilometer-wide waterway.
The frigate FGS Baden Württemberg will transit alongside a replenishment vessel to demonstrate Germany’s commitment to open navigation and a rules-based international system.
China claims control over the Taiwan Strait, which separates the Chinese mainland from the self-governed island of Taiwan.
Beijing claims the strait to be its territorial waters, while Taiwan and several Western countries, including the U.S., consider it an international waterway.
The German passage would be the first since 2002, indicating a shift in Berlin’s foreign policy toward asserting a stronger presence in the Indo-Pacific.
The German naval vessels have participated in military drills with allies from France, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.