German Warships Poised for Historic Taiwan Strait Passage

Two German warships are awaiting Berlin's orders on whether to become the first German naval vessels in decades to pass through the Taiwan Strait, risking tensions with China. While other nations have recently sent ships through the strait, Germany's navy last passed through it in 2002.

Two German warships await directives from Berlin to potentially navigate the Taiwan Strait next month, raising the stakes with China. This would mark the first German naval transit through the strait since 2002, following similar moves by the U.S., Canada, and other nations.

China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan and claims jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, a critical international waterway. Taiwan rejects these claims, advocating that its people's will should decide its future. The U.S. and Taiwan consider the strait to be international waters.

'The decision has not been made,' Rear Admiral Axel Schulz revealed in an interview with Reuters. He emphasized that weather conditions would play a part in the planning, underscoring Germany's commitment to rules-based order and peaceful conflict resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)