German Warships Transit Taiwan Strait, Visit Philippines Amid Rising Tensions

Germany's naval maneuvers spark Chinese ire as Berlin reaffirms commitment to international law and regional stability.

Two German warships, the Baden-Württemberg frigate and the Frankfurt am Main supply ship, sailed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 22 years.
The transit drew sharp criticism from China, which views the strait as its territorial waters, while Germany insists it is an international waterway.
The German vessels' journey is part of a broader deployment to the Indo-Pacific, including port calls in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation and international law in the region.
The visit to the Philippines comes amid escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.