A German warship will patrol the Indian Ocean as part of the country’s plans to deal with China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said
She said the frigate is expected to deploy next year and that a German naval presence in the Indo-Pacific will help preserve the rules-based world order « We believe that Germany must mark its position in the region, » she said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald
“We hope to be able to be deployed next year,” she said “We will spend more on defense in 2021 than in 2020 despite the fact that [the Covid-19 pandemic] has hit our budgets Now the key is to translate that into real muscle «
Kramp-Karrenbauer did not say whether the frigate will conduct freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea, where China has made controversial territorial claims
« In view of the growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, my aim is to intensify our bilateral and multilateral collaboration This could include, for example, the embarkation of German officers in Australian Navy units – a project which is under negotiation as we speak ”, she declared
The move comes in the wake of Germany’s announcement of its Indo-Pacific policy in September, when with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the latent conflicts in the region « would have global repercussions. ‘they burst’
The German Foreign Ministry said at the time that the economies of Europe and the Indo-Pacific were closely linked through global supply chains, while major trade routes cross the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Pacific « If the conflicts in the region negatively affect security and stability there, this has repercussions for Germany as well, » the statement said.
Kramp-Karrenbauer noted that the Indo-Pacific had become crucial for the well-being of the world and said that Germany could not afford to ignore some of China’s activities. « China is a important trading partner for Germany and we have strong economic ties which are in the interest of both parties, « she said “At the same time, we do not turn a blind eye to unequal investment conditions, aggressive appropriation of intellectual property, state-subsidized distortions of competition or attempts to influence through loans and investments. ‘investments »
Kramp-Karrenbauer was the German prime minister to publicly confirm that restrictions on Chinese telecoms giant Huawei would effectively exclude the company from the German 5G network “Germany is, in principle, open to investment from all sides, but if the technology offered to us is not faultless, it cannot be used,” she said
« The political ramifications would be just too serious China is a country which understands the political dimension of computer networks and data flows very well. I’m sure our counterparts in Beijing understand that we Europeans can only use ‘a technology we trust «
Kramp-Karrenbauer said that Germany is also working within NATO to expand relations with like-minded states such as Australia in the Indo-Pacific “We share the same values, principles and interests As a result, we are united against those who challenge us ”, she declared
« I am convinced that territorial disputes, violations of international law and China’s ambitions for global supremacy can only be addressed multilaterally »
She also said that China’s recent actions, rather than increasing pressure from the United States, had sparked a « across-Europe overhaul »
« What will be crucial, whatever the outcome of the US presidential election, is whether the West can be more unified in its relations with Beijing, » she said « We’ve always had our tiffs across the Atlantic That won’t change The bottom line is that we do big things right China is big business »
Germany, China, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Indian Ocean
News from the world – AU – German warship to patrol the Indian Ocean from next year
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
