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China’s military said on Wednesday that it forced a Dutch navy vessel out of waters near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea after accusing it of illegally entering the area.
According to the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command, the Dutch frigate De Ruyter repeatedly deployed its onboard helicopter in what Beijing described as a violation of Chinese airspace. Chinese forces responded by issuing verbal warnings and using “electronic jamming” measures to drive the vessel away.
“The Dutch side’s actions seriously violated China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime and air security, seriously breached international law and the basic norms of international relations,” the command said in a statement.
China also warned the Netherlands to immediately stop what it described as “provocative” actions in the region.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that rejected the basis of its sweeping territorial claims. The dispute has continued to heighten tensions between China and neighbouring countries with competing claims in the strategic waterway.
The latest incident came shortly after the United States, India, Japan and Australia jointly expressed concern over rising tensions in the South and East China Seas. In a joint statement on Tuesday, the four countries criticised “dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft” as well as “ramming and blocking actions in the South China Sea”, although they did not mention China directly.
