Germany is once again stepping up its game in countering China.
Over the weekend, Berlin’s defense minister said that the nation will deploy two warships to the Indo-Pacific next year.
He said that countries need to consolidate rule-based international order and maritime security.
This announcement comes amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, and over the disputed South China Sea.
The Minister added the deployments were not directed against any nation, a remark seemingly addressing China.
China remains a crucial trade partner with Germany, but Berlin has been treading the line between its security and economic interest.
In 2021, a German warship sailed into the South China Sea for the first time in almost 20 years, a move that saw Berlin joining other Western nations in expanding its military influence there.