In December 2021, the German coalition government signed an agreement in which it expressed, for the first time, its concern over peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and its support for Taipei’s participation in international organizations. On July 17, Berlin announced its China strategy — the first ever of its kind in the nation’s history. In addition to sounding the alarm on the threat that Beijing poses, Germany’s Strategy on China puts the importance of Taiwan into perspective.
The document states that the situation in the Taiwan Strait shows how vulnerable supply chains are; that security in the Taiwan Strait is of crucial importance for peace and stability in the region and far beyond; and that Germany has close and good relations with Taiwan in many areas and wants to expand them. All these show that the situation in the Taiwan Strait has become a major global security issue that Berlin needs to focus on.
The biennial, multinational Talisman Sabre exercises led by the US and Australia began on July 22 and are to last for two weeks. Germany is taking part for the first time, sending paratroopers and marines among other forces to Australia to join the large-scale exercises involving more than 30,000 officers and soldiers from 13 countries. Faced with the strategic competition between the US and China, Berlin has begun to shift its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region.
Due to its commitment to pacifism after World War II, Germany initiated a large-scale disarmament and slashed its defense budget. Germany’s global military power ranking fell behind France, the UK and Italy among other countries.
However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year has made it clear to Berlin how untrustworthy authoritarian countries such as Russia and China are, and the military threat they pose. This was the major impetus behind German Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly vowing to rebuild Germany into a European military power.
On July 5, Germany approved a draft general budget for next year, cutting various expenditures, but substantially increasing the defense budget to 51.8 billion euros (US$56.9 billion), an increase of 1.7 billion euros from this year. Berlin also plans to use a special fund of 100 billion euros set up after the outbreak of the Ukrainian-Russian war last year to modernize its military and allocate 19.2 billion euros from it to lift its defense spending next year to 2 percent of GDP, in line with NATO regulations.
In terms of military weapons, Germany plans to purchase 35 F-35 jets and 60 Boeing CH-47F helicopters from the US, more than 100 Boxer armored fighting vehicles from Australia and Heron TP drones from Israel. These actions to bolster its military capability are a strategic move to make the Bundeswehr the most powerful army in NATO to protect the security of Germany and Europe, as well as to support the US, Japan, Australia in jointly defending the Indo-Pacific region.
Germany is not an Indo-Pacific country, but in response to China’s military expansion, it has adjusted its defense policy and proactively engaged in Indo-Pacific military activities.
In 2021, Germany for the first time took part in the joint naval exercises of the US, Japan, Australia, Canada in the Indo-Pacific region, and the German frigate Bayern also made its first passage through the South China Sea.
Last year, Berlin sent as many as 13 military aircraft to Australia for the Pitch Black joint exercises and Exercise Kakadu. This year, Germany released its Strategy on China paper and sent troops to join the military exercises in Australia, which for the first time include simulated land and amphibious landing warfare.
All these measures highlight military Germany’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region, and its aim is China.
Yao Chung-yuan is an adjunct university professor and former deputy director of the Ministry of National Defense’s Strategic Planning Department.
Translated by Lin Lee-kai
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