The German Navy’s Show of Force: Warships in the South China Sea Demonstrate a Bold Stance Against Rising Tensions.
Two German naval vessels, including the frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg, are currently sailing through the South China Sea en route to the Philippines. The ships departed from Incheon, South Korea, on Tuesday and are expected to pass through the Taiwan Strait before arriving in Manila. According to a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry, the ships are scheduled to dock in Manila on September 16. While the ministry did not disclose the ships’ routes in advance for safety reasons, this navigation across the South China Sea marks a significant event. It is the first time German warships have traversed these waters since the destroyer Bayern’s deployment in the region from August 2021 to February 2022. Notably, during that mission, the Bayern sailed from South Korea to Singapore but avoided the Taiwan Strait due to its sensitive nature. A Historic Passage Should the German warships pass through the Taiwan Strait this time, it will be a rare occurrence. It has been 22 ...