Two German Warships Await Orders for Possible Taiwan Strait Passage, Sparking Tensions with Beijing

Two German warships are on standby, awaiting orders from Berlin that could see them become the first German naval vessels in decades to pass through the Taiwan Strait. The potential move, set for next month, has already drawn a rebuke from Beijing.

While the U.S. and other nations, including Canada, have recently sent warships through the narrow strait, it would mark the German navy’s first passage through the Taiwan Strait since 2002. The waterway, approximately 180 km (110 miles) wide, separates mainland China from Taiwan and is a major global trade route.

China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, asserts that it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan, however, rejects China’s claims, insisting that only its people have the right to decide their future. The United States and Taiwan maintain that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, critical for global shipping lanes.

“The decision has not been taken yet,” said Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, commander of the German naval task group, in an interview with Reuters. Schulz emphasized that weather conditions would influence the decision. He added, “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.”

China’s foreign ministry responded to the potential German passage, with spokesperson Mao Ning stating, “China has always been opposed to the undermining of China’s territorial sovereignty and security under the guise of freedom of navigation.” Mao reiterated that Taiwan is an internal matter for China and stressed the importance of opposing Taiwan’s independence to maintain stability.

Before any possible passage through the Taiwan Strait, the German frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main are scheduled to dock in Tokyo on Tuesday. Their itinerary also includes stops in South Korea and the Philippines. Additionally, the vessels will participate in regional exercises alongside France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.

In recent years, Beijing has increased its military activities in the Taiwan Strait, and it regularly condemns foreign warships’ passages through the area, particularly those of the U.S., arguing that such missions “undermine peace and stability” in the region.

Germany, like other Western nations, has been expanding its military presence in the Indo-Pacific as concerns grow over China’s territorial ambitions. In 2021, a German warship sailed through the South China Sea for the first time in nearly two decades. Last month, the German Luftwaffe deployed fighter jets to Japan for joint drills, another first for the German military.

Rear Admiral Schulz downplayed concerns about potential security risks should the German warships cross the Taiwan Strait, describing it as a “normal passage” akin to navigating the English Channel or the North Sea. However, he acknowledged that any passage would likely be closely monitored by Chinese forces. “I expect the Chinese navy and potentially the coastguard or maritime militia to escort us,” Schulz said, noting that such monitoring is common practice.