Amid China and Taiwan tensions, Germany deploys two warships to Indo-Pacific
- In Reports
- 06:23 PM, May 07, 2024
- Myind Staff
Germany sends two warships to the Indo-Pacific region on Tuesday as part of efforts to bolster its military presence amid escalating tensions between China and Taiwan, as well as disputes in the South China Sea.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted the significance of these tensions, emphasising their impact on freedom of navigation and trade routes. "Germany cannot afford to ignore these developments," he stated during a press briefing before the warships set sail. "Maintaining a presence in the Indo-Pacific in support of the international rules-based order is imperative."
An estimated 40 percent of Europe's foreign trade traverses the South China Sea, according to reports.
Despite an international tribunal ruling against its claims, China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea. Additionally, it claims Taiwan as its territory, despite strong objections from the island nation.
The supply ship Frankfurt am Main departed from Wilhelmshaven, while the frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg set sail from the Spanish port of Rota. Both vessels will rendezvous at sea before proceeding to Halifax in Canada and then on to the Indo-Pacific region.
According to sources, it remains uncertain whether the ships will navigate through the Taiwan Strait, akin to the United States, a move that could potentially provoke China, Germany's primary trading partner in the region.
Pistorius stated that considering numerous allied navy vessels have sailed through the Taiwan Strait, this option remains viable. However, no definitive decision has been reached.
In 2021, a German warship ventured into the South China Sea for the first time in almost two decades, aligning with Western nations' efforts to strengthen their military presence in response to China's territorial ambitions.
During combat exercises in the northernmost island town of Itbayat, US Marines and their Filipino counterparts were observed darting out of Black Hawk helicopters. Itbayat is situated along the strategic Bashi Channel off the southern coast of Taiwan, a focal point in the military rivalry between Washington and Beijing.
The display of allied combat readiness in Batanes province, part of the annual Balikatan military drills that began last month, highlights the joint efforts of over 16,000 American and Philippine military personnel. Balikatan, translating to "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Tagalog, symbolises the unity between the two nations.
These exercises, the largest to date between the long-time treaty allies, act as a deterrent against potential aggression. They occur against the backdrop of China's escalating assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea, where confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guards, along with accompanying vessels, have grown increasingly tense since last year.
Image source: Reuters
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