TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan appreciates the passage of German navy ships through the Taiwan Strait, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said in a meeting with a delegation of German lawmakers on Monday (Sept. 16).

The frigate Baden-Wurttemberg and supply ship Frankfurt am Main passed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday (Sept. 13) en route from South Korea to Indonesia. Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the passage is in full compliance with international laws and Germany has the right to transit international waters.

The transit was Germany’s first in 22 years, Lin pointed out in a Facebook post. This is a demonstration to the international community that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, protected by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, he said. “Taiwan welcomes countries defending the right to free navigation in the Taiwan Strait.”

The foreign minister met with German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee members Michael Muller and Andreas Larem, thanking them for voicing support for Taiwan in Germany's parliament.

Lin said Taiwan’s location in the first island chain means facing China's hybrid warfare tactics constantly and he said he was eager to share insights and experiences with the international community. He looked forward to building stronger partnerships with European democracies to confront the challenges posed by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

The foreign minister hoped Germany would continue to maintain its pro-Taiwan stance in future updates to its China strategy.