China accuses Germany of increasing ‘security risks’ by sending warships through Taiwan Strait.

China criticized Germany on Saturday for increasing security risks after two German warships passed through the Taiwan Strait, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius defended the move, saying the ships were sailing through international waters via the safest route while Beijing deployed troops to monitor them.

The Bundesmarine’s Berlin A 1412 Frankfurt-class supply ship leaves its home port of Wilhelmshaven in northwestern Germany on May 7, 2024, heading for deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

China accused Berlin on Saturday of increasing security risks in the Taiwan Strait, a day after two German warships sailed through the sensitive waters.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed on Friday that the Baden-Württemberg frigate and the Frankfurt supply ship had passed through the strait.

“Germany’s actions increased security risks and sent the wrong signal,” Chinese military spokesman Li Shi said in a statement.

Warships from the United States, as well as other countries, often sail through the sensitive waterway.

However, according to German media reports, the Baden-Württemberg flight was the first time the German navy had done so in more than two decades.

Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province and claims jurisdiction over the waters between it and mainland China.

Germany and several other countries insist such trips are common, citing freedom of navigation as grounds for navigation.

On Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that the People’s Liberation Army had sent its navy and air force to “monitor and warn” the German ships.

Li added that Beijing’s regional military “will resolutely respond to all threats and provocations.”

German Defense Ministry officials said the two ships were heading from South Korea to the Philippines.

Pistorius said on Friday that the route the ships had plotted was the “shortest route.”

“It’s the safest route given the weather conditions. These are international waters, so we’re going to sail there.”

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Although Taiwan has only ten diplomatic allies, it maintains strong alliances with many Western democracies, such as the United States, Taiwan’s largest arms supplier.

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Beijing has stepped up its intimidation campaign against Taiwan in recent years, including large-scale military exercises around the island.

The Chinese government warned this year that “Taiwan independence forces will be beaten to a pulp”.

Chinese state media reported in June that Beijing could impose the death penalty for what it considers “particularly serious” cases of Taiwanese separatism.

When asked about the ships, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Friday, “There is nothing to say… This is an international waterway.”

Taiwan said earlier this week that it “welcomes and reiterates that Germany, together with the United States, Canada and the Netherlands, has taken steps to establish the legal status of the Taiwan Strait as international waters, while defending freedom of navigation and maintaining regional peace”.