Germany Dispatches Warships to South China Sea... Fully Joins US Efforts to Contain China

"Rule-Based International Order Protection"... US Participates in 'Freedom of Navigation'
Considering Diplomatic Relations with China, Will Not Pass Through Taiwan Strait

Departure scene of the German frigate Bayern dispatched to the South China Sea [Image source=German Ministry of Defense website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Germany announced that it has dispatched a warship to the South China Sea, officially joining the U.S.-led efforts to contain China. The warship will navigate the Indo-Pacific region for the next six months and is scheduled to participate in monitoring sanctions against North Korea in the West Sea in November. However, it stated that it will not sail through disputed territorial waters such as the Taiwan Strait, fearing strong backlash from China.

On the 2nd (local time), the German Foreign Ministry released a statement saying, "The frigate Bayern has set sail to carry out a six-month patrol and training mission in the Indo-Pacific." It emphasized, "The Bayern will participate in the UN's monitoring activities of North Korean sanctions and conduct joint exercises with regional partner countries. It is also scheduled to navigate the South China Sea in accordance with international law that guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, "The Indo-Pacific is where the future international order will be decided," adding, "We want to take responsibility in shaping this order and upholding a rules-based international order."

According to the Associated Press, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who attended the Bayern’s departure ceremony, said, "The message that we raise our flag together with partners and allies for our values and interests is clear," emphasizing, "We must help maintain and take responsibility for the rules-based international order. Our navy can no longer remain comfortable and complacent."

This is the first time in 20 years since 2002 that Germany has dispatched a warship to the South China Sea. With Germany officially joining the U.S.-led efforts to contain China, all three major Western European countries have now deployed forces to the South China Sea region. In April, France conducted its first maritime exercise in the Bay of Bengal with Quad countries, a U.S.-led military coalition to contain China, and in May, the United Kingdom rapidly deployed the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier strike group to the South China Sea.

However, considering relations with China, the Bayern is reportedly planning not to navigate waters where China has territorial disputes, such as the Taiwan Strait. Admiral Kai Achim Sch?nbach, who commands the Bayern, said in a pre-departure speech, "Germany does not intend to provoke confrontation in the South China Sea. We will use commercial sea lanes that anyone can navigate."