German warship enters Taiwan Strait despite Chinese protests

The German frigate Baden-Württemberg on Friday entered the strait between China and Taiwan, marking the first time in more than 20 years that a German military vessel has used the politically sensitive route, reported dpa.

The German task force supply ship Frankfurt am Main passed together with the warship into the Taiwan Strait, according to positional data on the internet.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry confirmed that one German naval frigate and one supply ship were sailing through the Taiwan Strait from north to south.

The Taiwanese military was closely monitoring the surrounding sea and airspace, and the situation remained normal, the ministry said.

China regards democratically governed Taiwan as a breakaway province, and the strait as Chinese - rather than international - waters.

Earlier on Friday, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed the ship's route at a press conference in Berlin with his Lithuanian counterpart Laurynas Kasčiūnas, saying "It is international waters, so we are passing through."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing has reiterated its objection to what it calls provocations and threats damaging China's sovereignty and security under the guise of freedom of navigation.

Warships from other countries, such as the United States, have also passed through the strait in the past, prompting protests from Beijing.