China’s military issued a strong condemnation on Saturday regarding the passage of two German naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, accusing the move of heightening security risks and sending a misleading message to the international community.
According to Chinese authorities, forces were deployed to monitor and issue warnings to the German ships, a frigate and a supply vessel, throughout their transit.
Beijing claims Taiwan and its surrounding waters, including the Taiwan Strait, as part of its sovereign territory, and it views any foreign military presence in the region as an infringement on its rights.
In contrast, both the United States and Taiwan assert that the strait, a crucial international shipping lane, is a part of international waters.
The Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) criticised the passage of the German ships as a form of “public hyping” and warned that such actions could destabilise the region.
In a formal statement, the PLA emphasised that Chinese forces remain vigilant and ready to address perceived threats and provocations.
The German side’s behaviour increases security risks and sends the wrong signal,” the statement read.
The PLA stated that it would “resolutely counter all threats and provocations.”
China’s embassy in Germany further reiterated Beijing’s position, stressing that Taiwan is a part of Chinese territory, a claim that Taiwan, with its democratically elected government, staunchly rejects.
The embassy claimed that the issue at hand was not a question of “freedom of navigation,” but one of China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging Germany to refrain from actions that could disrupt bilateral relations between the two countries.
Beijing has long argued that the Taiwan Strait constitutes Chinese territorial waters, rejecting the notion of international waters in the region. The Chinese government has repeatedly warned foreign powers, particularly the United States and its allies, against conducting military operations in the area.
U.S. warships pass through the Taiwan Strait approximately once every two months, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing, which views these transits as provocations.
Other U.S. allies, such as Britain and Canada, have also occasionally sent their vessels through the strait, further fueling tensions with China.
Taiwan, however, takes a different stance.
The government in Taipei has consistently maintained that only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their own future. Taiwan’s officials have denounced China’s aggressive posture, particularly Beijing’s refusal to renounce the use of force to achieve reunification.
Over the past five years, China has ramped up its military activities around Taiwan, including conducting large-scale military exercises. These actions have raised concerns about the potential for a military confrontation in the region.
In a separate incident on the same day, Taiwan’s coast guard reported that it had dispatched vessels to monitor and warn four Chinese maritime police ships that were sailing in restricted waters near the Kinmen Islands, a group of Taiwan-controlled islets located just off China’s southeastern coast.
The Taiwanese coast guard accused China of continuing to provoke and undermine peace in the Taiwan Strait through such maneuvers. It reaffirmed its commitment to defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, emphasising its approach of no provocation, no conflict, and no display of weakness.
The ongoing tension surrounding the Taiwan Strait highlights the broader geopolitical struggle between China and Western powers, particularly regarding issues of sovereignty, territorial control, and freedom of navigation.
As China continues to assert its claims over Taiwan, the region remains a flashpoint for potential conflict, with implications for international trade and security.
The diplomatic exchanges between China and Germany following the naval transit demonstrate the delicate balancing act that countries face in navigating their relationships with China while upholding international maritime norms.
Click here for more News & Current Affairs at EU Today
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eutoday1049
