The German warships Baden-Württemberg and Frankfurt am Main will sail through the Taiwan Strait despite Chinese authorities’ demands that they refrain from appearing in the area, as Beijing regards the island and the strait as its territory. Spiegel writes about this based on sources.
Under international law, the Taiwan Strait is free for navigation, but Beijing insists it has the exclusive right to bar foreign warships from passing through. Germany will ignore this position, following in the footsteps of the United States and other Western countries that refuse to notify China.
German naval ships last bypassed the Taiwan Strait in 2021, prompting criticism of the German government for giving in to Beijing. This time, the publication writes, the German government initially also doubted the feasibility of the passage.
The strait is 160 kilometers wide and separates China from Taiwan. The strait is considered international waters and is important for global trade, but China considers the passage of foreign warships through it a challenge to sovereignty, explains the Associated Press. The Chinese military sends ships and aircraft into the strait and nearby areas almost daily.
China demanded that the US “stop abusing international law, cease all dangerous provocations and strictly discipline its troops on the ground,” insisting that US troops passing through the strait were engaging in a provocation.
“No member of the international community should be intimidated or forced to give up their rights and freedoms. The United States military flies, sails, and operates wherever international law allows.” — the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said in a May response to China’s claims.
