The frigate “Baden-Württemberg” could navigate through a strait between China and Taiwan on its way to the Philippines. China reacted critically to reports of this, but the German army sees no reason for concern.
The Chinese government has expressed criticism of the possible passage of the German frigate “Baden-Württemberg” through the straits between China and Taiwan (Taiwan Strait). China rejects provocations and threats by relevant states against China’s sovereignty and security under the guise of freedom of navigation, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning in response to a question about the possible route of the Bundeswehr warship. She did not explain who she meant by “relevant states”.
Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and the waters in the Taiwan Strait are Chinese waters, Mao said. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province and wants to unite the island state, which has been governed independently for decades, with its mainland.
No comment on the route
Der Spiegel had previously reportedthat the route of the German frigate would lead through the Taiwan Strait. Warships from other countries, such as the USA, had also passed through the strait in the past, despite protests from China.
The leadership of the German frigate did not comment on the route plans for reasons of “operational security”. “We are exercising the freedom of international waters here. So there is no reason to say anything about the route we are taking,” said Axel Schulz, flotilla admiral of the German Navy, in the South Korean port of Incheon.
Bundeswehr sees no provocation
From the perspective of the Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, the route would not represent a provocation of the People’s Republic of China anyway. “I do not believe that we are risking provoking China, but rather the other way around; that with the perception and the points that China brings into this, precisely this international law is being called into question,” said Germany’s highest-ranking soldier, Carsten Breuer.
According to Breuer, no decision has yet been made about the frigate’s further route. “That is a decision that will be made at the right time and will be communicated at that time,” he said.
The frigate “Baden-Württemberg” and the task force supply ship “Frankfurt am Main” are currently in South Korea during their Pacific mission, where they were most recently involved in monitoring UN sanctions against North Korea. If the frigate passes through the Taiwan Strait, it would be the first time since 2002 that a German naval ship has chosen this route.