Chinese military officials announced Friday they sent naval vessels and aircraft to observe and track a Dutch warship as it sailed through the Taiwan Strait, saying they managed the situation “effectively.”
The Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter had previously drawn criticism from Beijing last week when Chinese authorities claimed the vessel unlawfully entered the Paracel Islands region in the contested South China Sea. Dutch officials responded at that time by stating their warship was navigating through South China Sea waters for diplomatic, security and economic purposes while following international maritime law.
According to the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command (ETC), the Dutch naval ship’s journey through the Taiwan Strait occurred following its operations near the Paracel Islands beginning May 27.
“Forces of the PLA ETC will stay on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability,” Xu Chenghua, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a Friday statement.
Dutch naval officials were not immediately available to provide a response.
Beijing considers the strategically important and narrow strait to be Chinese territorial waters, in addition to asserting control over democratically governed Taiwan.
