China condemns German military ships’ transit through Taiwan Strait

China’s military has condemned the transit of two German navy ships through the Taiwan Strait, claiming it heightened security concerns and conveyed the ‘wrong’ signal, adding that Chinese forces observed and warned the ships.

China, which claims democratically controlled Taiwan, asserts that it alone has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait.

However, the United States and Taiwan claim the strait is a significant commercial route that transports over half of all worldwide container ships – an international waterway.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command stated that the passage of the two ships, a frigate and a supply vessel, constituted “public hyping,” and that its naval and air forces observed and warned them the entire time.

China’s embassy in Germany said in a separate statement it had lodged ‘representations’ with Berlin, saying Taiwan belonged to China, a position the democratically elected government in Taipei strongly rejects.

The Taiwan Strait is Chinese waters “and there are no so-called ‘international waters’ at all”, the embassy added.

China urges Germany to avoid any ‘interference’ that would jeopardise the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, it added.

Taiwan’s government says only the island’s people can decide their future.

Meanwhile, US warships pass through the strait about once every two months, which irritates Beijing, and some US allies, including as Canada and the United Kingdom, have undertaken infrequent transits.

China, which has never abandoned the use of force to seize control of Taiwan, has increased military exercises near the island during the last five years, including war games.

Taiwan’s coast guard said it had sent ships to monitor and warn four Chinese maritime police vessels traveling in restricted seas near the Taiwanese-controlled Kinmen islands, which are located close adjacent to China’s coast.

The Chinese ships have continued to provoke and damage peace in the strait, and the coast guard is determined to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty by upholding the principles of no provocation, no conflict and no show of weakness, it said.