Germany To Sail A Warship In August Across The Contested South China Sea For the First Time Since 2002

The German ship will not pass within what officials called the '12-nautical-mile' in a reference to contested areas in the crowded sea [File: Fabian Bimmer/Reuters]

Reuters: U.S. calls German warship's plan to sail South China Sea support for rules-based order

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday hailed plans by NATO ally Germany to sail a warship across the contested South China Sea, calling it welcome support for a “rules-based international order” in the region, something Washington says is threatened by China.

German government officials said on Tuesday a German frigate would set sail for Asia in August and, on its return journey, become the first German warship to cross the South China Sea since 2002.

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Update: German warship to cross South China Sea for first time since 2002 (Al Jazeera)

WNU Editor: China has responded .... Beijing to Berlin: respect South China Sea sovereignty during frigate visit (SCMP).