Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and the waters in the Taiwan Strait are Chinese waters, Mao continued. Beijing respects the right of navigation. This must be in accordance with Chinese law and international law for all countries in the waters concerned. 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 “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. The command 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.
