Germany: The German Air Force's largest peacetime deployment, 13 military aircraft, is being sent to Australia for a joint exercise, highlighting Berlin's growing focus on the Indo-Pacific in light of the region's escalating tensions with China.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, a German warship entered the South China Sea last year. With growing concern over Beijing's territorial ambitions, Berlin became involved with other Western nations in increasing their military presence in the region.

As China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory, began conducting military exercises around the democratically-run island following US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in early August, tensions over Taiwan has also increased.

Six Eurofighter jets and three A330 tankers left their bases in Cologne and Neuberg an der Donau respectively on Monday for a three-day flight to Australia, where they will join 16 other countries in a biennial exercise with four German A400M transporters. have already left. in the darkness

According to German Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz, during the deployment, which includes rounds to Japan and South Korea, pilots will refuel the fighters in the air about 200 times.

Asked whether the warplanes would fly over the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, two areas where tensions with China have escalated in the past, Gerhartz replied that they would use civilian air traffic routes and over the Taiwan Strait. There will be no flight. plans.
He told reporters that the South China Sea and Taiwan are undoubtedly regional important points.

We will travel on international routes and fly at altitudes of more than 10 km (6 mi), barely touching the South China Sea.

"I don't think we're sending a threatening message to China by flying to an exercise in Australia," Gerhartz said, claiming that the purpose of his deployment was to send a message to Germany's allies rather than to China. .

Philip Green, Australia's ambassador to Germany, echoed the general's remarks, who emphasized that Beijing should not see the routine exercises as destabilizing the region.

When asked about the message to China, Green replied, "We are looking for a region that is stable, peaceful and prosperous, a strategic balance, where each country can make its own sovereign choices.

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