China: Beijing accuses Germany of increasing threat, sends naval and air forces

China reacted the day after two Germanwhich military ships passed through the sensitive waters of the Taiwan Strait.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed on Friday that the frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and the supply ship Frankfurt am Main sailed through the strait, which did not please the Chinese authorities.

“The behavior of the German side increases security risks and sends the wrong signals” Chinese military spokesman Li Xi said in a statement.

Both ships were heading from South Korea to the Philippines, German Defense Ministry officials said. Pistorius said Friday that the course set by the ships was the “shortest route”.

– This is the safest route, considering the weather conditions. These are international waters, so we sail through them. – he stated.

Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz he said on Friday, when asked about the ships, that “there is not much to say… it is an international waterway“.

American military ships, as well as those operated by other countries, often passed through the sensitive waterway of the Taiwan Strait– AFP reminds. However, the Baden-Wuerttemberg cruise was the first in over two decades that the Berlin navy has made there – the agency reports, citing German media.

Li said on Saturday that was why The Chinese People's Liberation Army sent naval and air forces to “monitor and warn” German ships.

Beijing's troops in the area “will resolutely counter any threats and provocations,” Li added.

Beijing sees Taiwan as a renegade province and claims jurisdiction over the body of water that separates the island from mainland China. Meanwhile, Germany and many other countries claim that such cruises are customary, invoking the right of freedom of navigation.

Taiwanese officials said earlier this week that they “welcome and confirm that Germany, together with the USA, Canada i Netherlandsare taking action to demonstrate the legal status of the Taiwan Strait as international waterswhile defending freedom of navigation and maintaining peace in the region.”

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