China feels provoked by Germany’s Pacific mission

Beijing has expressed its 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 Beijing 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. Beijing respects the right of navigation enjoyed by all countries in the waters concerned in accordance with Chinese law and international law. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province and wants to unite the island state, which has been governed independently for decades, with its mainland.

The news magazine “Spiegel” had previously reported that 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 Beijing.

Frigate leadership does not want to comment on route after China criticism

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, Fleet Admiral of the German Navy, in the South Korean port of Incheon.

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.