A German warship sailed into the South China Sea for the first time in nearly 20 years, joining other EU nations in expanding their military presence in the region. 

A spokesperson for the defense ministry in Berlin said on Wednesday that the German navy vessel has begun the transit through the South China Sea, on its way to Singapore that is expected to take several days. 

Bayern, the 3,600 tons Brandenburg-class frigate, is the first German warship to cross the South China Sea since 2002, a region through which 40% of Europe's foreign trade passes.

According to Berlin officials, the German navy will stick to common trade routes. The frigate is also not expected to sail through the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, the former German government said that the mission aims to stress the fact Germany does not accept China's rhetoric on the South China Sea.

Germany dispatched the frigate to the South China Sea in August. The German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, later stated that the move was made to strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Why the South China Sea?

As tensions have risen between Beijing and Washington over the political status of the island of Taiwan, which China considers a part of its national sovereignty, countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have increased their presence in the Pacific ‘to counter China's influence.’

Meanwhile, Washington sends warships on a regular basis to confirm that international law guarantees freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

A delegation of US senators has lately visited Taiwan to express support for the Taiwanese government, while Beijing accused them of seeking independence for the island.

Previous drills 

The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) of Japan and the United States Navy conducted their first cooperative anti-submarine training in the South China Sea on November 16, according to the MSDF.

MSDF Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura said at a news conference: "The ability to conduct an advanced (joint) drill in any area of the sea shows a high level of interoperability between Japan and the United States," adding that "it also represents the deterrence and response capability of the MSDF and the U.S. Navy."

The MSDF said in a statement released late Tuesday that the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise earlier in the day included one of Japan's largest warships, the Kaga helicopter carrier, as well as a destroyer and a patrol plane.

The USS Milius, an advanced guided-missile Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and P-8A patrol aircraft from the US Navy also participated in the first such joint drills in the South China Sea.