6-6-2023 (BERLIN) Germany will deploy two navy vessels to the Indo-Pacific region in 2024, according to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who made the announcement during the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. While Pistorius emphasized that the move is not aimed at any specific country, it is believed to be a response to China’s increasing aggression in the region.
Pistorius stated at the security forum that the German government had previously sent frigates to the Indo-Pacific in 2021, and that it will deploy naval assets in the area next year, including a frigate and a supply ship. He added that the deployment is dedicated to upholding the rules-based international order that all countries have agreed to adhere to and benefit from, whether in the Mediterranean, the Bay of Bengal, or the South China Sea.
On Saturday, Pistorius also demanded that China stop recruiting former German military pilots to train its own fighter pilots during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart. He told reporters, “I have made it clear that I expect this policy to be stopped immediately.”
German security officials have said it is highly likely that pilots have been sharing knowledge, such as German military and NATO operational tactics.
China is Germany’s largest trading partner, and about 40% of European exports pass through the South China Sea.
In September, Germany and the other G7 nations issued a joint statement expressing opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encouraging the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
In March, Pistorius traveled to Japan, making him the first German defense minister to visit in 16 years. During his visit, he met with his Japanese counterpart, Yasukazu Hamada, to discuss a potential defense cooperation framework and stated that the Indo-Pacific region is just as important for Germany as it is for Japan.
