German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reaffirmed that vessels are traversing international waters, emphasizing that it's the safest and most direct route given current weather, despite China’s protests.
Chinese officials condemned the German naval passage as a provocation against China's sovereignty, asserting their strong opposition to what they perceive as infringement under 'freedom of navigation'.
Taiwan's foreign ministry welcomed Germany's actions, asserting it supports the legal status of the Taiwan Strait as international waters and endorsing international efforts defending this status.
Historically, multiple western naval vessels have transited the Taiwan Strait, with US ships doing so about every two months, a practice that remains contentious with China.
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