by Jake Sanders, Editor
The Chinese military has stated that the passage of two German Navy ships through the Taiwan Strait on Friday has heightened security risks in the region. Beijing’s Foreign Ministry accused Germany of provoking tensions and breaching the One-China policy.
Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, following the Nationalist forces’ retreat to the island after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communists. Currently, only 12 countries recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. The US, while officially adhering to the One-China policy—which asserts Beijing’s authority over Chinese territories—has maintained informal relations with and supported Taiwan for decades.
China regards Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, with President Xi Jinping warning of potential military action to reclaim it.
On Friday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that a German naval frigate and a supply ship traversed the Taiwan Strait from north to south, marking the first such passage in 22 years.
Senior Captain Li Xi, a spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command, remarked that Germany’s actions have heightened security risks and conveyed misleading messages.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized that the Taiwan issue pertains to China’s sovereignty, not merely freedom of navigation. While Beijing acknowledges the rights of other nations to operate in international waters as per the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, it opposes any provocative actions disguised as navigation rights.
The Chinese Embassy in Berlin reiterated that the waters of the Taiwan Strait are considered China’s internal and territorial waters.
In response, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that “international waters are international waters,” and that the passage was the safest route given the weather conditions.
Despite China’s objections, countries like the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and France have repeatedly sent warships through the strait.