Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning
Two German warships are reported to have crossed the Taiwan Strait in mid-September, that’s the first German naval ship to cross the Taiwan Strait in 22 years. In this regard. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today (9th Sept) that it resolutely opposes the provocation of relevant countries to endanger China’s sovereignty and security under the banner of freedom of navigation.
According to comprehensive land media reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning (毛寧) pointed out at a regular press conference in the afternoon that China respects the navigation rights enjoyed by all countries in relevant waters in accordance with Chinese law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, “but we firmly oppose the provocation by relevant countries to endanger China’s sovereignty and security under the banner of ‘freedom of navigation’.”
Mao Ning claimed that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and I remember that we also made a position on relevant issues, and the internal waters of the Taiwan Strait are China’s internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone from the two sides of the strait to the sea.”
German magazine “Der Spiegel” recently reported that two German warships will pass through the Taiwan Strait in mid-September.
The report, citing unnamed sources, said Beijing would not receive an official notification of the passage of the Germany ship to underscore that Berlin considered the voyage to be a normal operation.
Countries such as United States and Canada have sent warships through the Taiwan Strait for several weeks, and if Germany join them, it will be the first time the Germany navy has passed through the Taiwan Strait since 2002.
According to Reuters, Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, commander of the Germany naval contingent, said in an interview in August that such actions show Germany’s commitment to a rules-based order and the peaceful resolution of territory-related conflicts.
據報導，兩艘德國軍艦計劃於9月中旬穿越台灣海峽，這將是德國海軍自2002年以來首次通過台海。對此，中國外交部今天（9日）表示強烈反對，認為有關國家以航行自由為名進行挑釁，損害中國的主權和安全。
根據陸媒的報導，中國外交部發言人毛寧在例行記者會上回應媒體提問時指出，中方尊重各國根據中國法律及包括《聯合國海洋法公約》在內的國際法享有的航行權利，但堅決反對有關國家以「航行自由」的名義進行挑釁，危害中國的主權和安全。
毛寧強調，「台灣是中國不可分割的一部分」，並重申台灣海峽的內水域依次為中國的內水、領海、毗連區和專屬經濟區。
德國《明鏡周刊》報導稱，兩艘德國軍艦將於9月中旬穿越台灣海峽。報導引述匿名消息人士表示，北京不會收到德國船隻通過的正式通知，強調柏林認為此次航行屬於正常行動。
近幾週來，美國、加拿大等國已派遣軍艦通過台灣海峽，若德國也加入，將標誌著德國海軍自2002年以來首次通過台海。此外，根據路透社的報導，德國海軍特遣隊少將指揮官舒爾茲在8月接受訪問時表示，這樣的行動顯示德國致力於建立基於規則的秩序，並和平解決領土相關衝突。
