China Claims Dutch Warship Illegally Entered Xisha Airspace, Then Crossed Taiwan Strait

China's military has accused a Dutch naval frigate of illegally entering its territorial airspace over the disputed Xisha Islands before transiting the Taiwan Strait. The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command announced that its forces monitored and warned off the HNLMS De Ruyter during its passage.

According to a statement released Friday evening by Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Xu Chenghua, the Dutch frigate's helicopter "illegally intruded into Xisha territorial airspace" on May 27. Xu stated that the command organized air and sea forces to closely monitor and effectively respond to the Dutch ship's passage through the Taiwan Strait, though he did not specify the exact time of the transit.

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illegally intruded into Xisha territorial airspace

This accusation follows a similar one from the PLA's Southern Theater Command on May 27, which also alleged the De Ruyter "illegally intruded into the Xisha Islands" and repeatedly flew its helicopter into "Chinese territorial airspace." At that time, the Southern Theater Command claimed to have issued verbal warnings and employed electronic countermeasures to drive the Dutch vessel away.

The Royal Netherlands Navy announced that the De Ruyter was conducting freedom of navigation operations in the Indo-Pacific as part of a planned deployment. The frigate had visited the Philippines from May 22 to May 25, a visit described by the Dutch Embassy in Manila as part of the "Pacific Archer" deployment, emphasizing the Netherlands' commitment to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the region.

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illegally intruded into the Xisha Islands