German warships await orders to cross Taiwan Strait

Two German warships, commanded by Vice Admiral Axel Scholz, are awaiting orders from Berlin to decide whether they will become the first German naval vessel in decades to transit the Taiwan Strait. The decision has not yet been made and weather conditions may play a role. According to Scholz, their potential passage is intended to demonstrate Germany’s commitment to the rules-based order, the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes and free and secure shipping lanes.

Over the past four years, Beijing has increased its military activities in the strait. Beijing regularly condemns foreign warships, particularly American ones, sailing through the waterway, saying such missions “undermine peace and stability” in the region. Germany, a major trading partner of both China and Taiwan, has joined other Western nations in expanding its military presence in the region as concerns grow about Beijing’s regional ambitions.

For their possible transit through the strait next month, the frigate Baden-Württemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main will dock in Tokyo on Tuesday. They will also stop in South Korea and the Philippines and take part in exercises with France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and the United States.

Taiwan Strait: An Important Trade Route

The Taiwan Strait is a major trade route through which about half of the world’s container ships sail. Both the United States and Taiwan say it is an international waterway. China claims sovereignty over democratically-ruled Taiwan and says it has jurisdiction over the roughly 180-km-wide waterway that separates the two sides and is part of the South China Sea.

Taiwan strongly disputes China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide its future. Germany’s military presence in the region has increased as concerns grow about Beijing’s territorial ambitions. Last month, the Luftwaffe deployed fighter jets for its first joint drills in Japan. In 2021, a German warship sailed through the South China Sea for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Schultz said he did not plan to take specific security measures if the warships under his command transited the Taiwan Strait. He described it as a “normal passage,” similar to sailing through the canal or the North Sea. However, he expected each passage to be closely monitored. He expected them to be accompanied by the Chinese navy and possibly the coast guard or maritime militia, describing that as common practice.

German warships waiting Requests From Berlin before they decided to cross the Taiwan Strait.

Key points

• Two German warships await orders from Berlin to cross the Taiwan Strait.
• The potential crossing aims to demonstrate Germany’s commitment to a rules-based order, the peaceful resolution of regional disputes and free and safe shipping lanes.
• Germany has joined other Western countries in expanding their military presence in the region as concerns grow about Beijing’s regional ambitions.

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