Amid tensions over China’s growing desire for power, the Japanese navy has allowed a warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait for the first time, according to a media report. Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported this on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Therefore, the destroyer “Sazanami” the day before crossed the narrow strait between China and Taiwan together with Australian and New Zealand ships.
China threatens the democratic island republic with violent conquest for the purpose of “reunification” and considers the Taiwan Strait as part of its territory, causing protests among neighboring countries. Japan, its protector power, the United States and other Chinese neighbors accuse Beijing of increasing militarization in the region. Against the backdrop of these tensions, a few days ago the German frigate “Baden-Württemberg” and the supply task force “Frankfurt am Main” crossed the Taiwan Strait on their way from South Korea to the Philippines. The passage attracted much attention.
