‘Bad memories’: China mocks Germany’s plans to expand military presence in Asia

Foreign ministry responds to comments by German defence chief, who said Berlin would join drills in the Indo-Pacific and send in more warships

A total of 13 German warplanes are taking part in US-led exercises in Australia, making it the European country’s largest peacetime deployment

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German Chief of Defence Eberhard Zorn speaks during an interview in Berlin, Germany on August 24. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:52pm, 1 Sep 2022Updated: 9:52pm, 1 Sep 2022

China mocked Germany’s plans to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific after Berlin’s defence chief said his country would step up engagement in the region.

“This will probably lead to some bad memories and associations in many countries in the world,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday.

Wang was responding to comments by General Eberhard Zorn, head of Germany’s armed forces, who said on Wednesday that Berlin would send more warships to the region and join military drills with allies as it keeps an eye on the “enormous” build-up of China’s armed forces.

China’s security policy is defensive and the country is developing its military capability to safeguard its legitimate security interests, which is “completely justified and reasonable”, Wang said.

A total of 13 German military aircraft are currently taking part in US-led joint exercises in Australia. It is the European country’s largest peacetime deployment and the first time it has taken part in Exercise Pitch Black, which features armed forces from 17 countries.

Zorn said Germany also planned to send troops to participate in training exercises in Australia next year, while the German navy would send a fleet of several more ships to the region in 2024 to “consolidate our presence in the region”.

“We do not want to provoke anyone with our presence but rather send a strong sign of solidarity with our allies,” he said.

“We stand for the freedom of navigation and the safeguarding of international norms.”