China Drives Away Dutch Warship Near Paracel Islands

China’s military said Wednesday it deployed naval and air forces to drive away a Dutch frigate that allegedly intruded into the territorial waters and airspace of the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, using verbal warnings and electronic interference to expel the vessel. The rare confrontation between Beijing and Amsterdam underscores growing naval tensions in the region as European powers increase their maritime presence.

Incident Overview

According to the PLA Southern Theater Command, the HNLMS De Ruyter (F804), a De Zeven Provinciën-class air defense frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy, “illegally intruded” into China’s Xisha Islands — the Chinese name for the Paracels — on May 27. The command alleged that the Dutch vessel repeatedly launched its shipborne helicopter into Chinese airspace.

Senior Captain Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command, stated that Chinese forces took “necessary measures including verbal warnings and warning electronic interference” to expel the warship. Zhai condemned the Dutch actions as “seriously infringing on China’s territorial sovereignty and the security of its sea and airspace,” warning they were “extremely likely to trigger misunderstanding and miscalculation.”

Conflicting Narratives

The Netherlands has firmly rejected China’s account. A spokesperson for the Dutch Defense Ministry told RTL Nieuws that the frigate “is operating on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea” and has “not been in territorial waters.” The ministry stated the vessel was “sailing through waters where free movement can take place” and was continuing its route.

The core disagreement hinges on the legal status of the Paracel Islands. China has controlled the archipelago since its 1974 seizure from South Vietnam and claims the surrounding waters as its territorial sea. The Netherlands and many Western nations do not recognize China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Broader Mission Context

The De Ruyter is deployed as part of the Netherlands’ five-month “Pacific Archer” mission, aimed at promoting freedom of navigation and building partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. According to USNI News, the frigate had visited Manila on May 22 for a port call and exercises with the Philippine Navy before heading toward the Paracels. The vessel is scheduled to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise from June 24 to July 31 in Hawaii, involving 31 nations.

Expert Analysis

Chinese military experts characterized the Dutch actions as unusually provocative. Zhang Junshe, a military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the Dutch behavior was “very egregious,” particularly the repeated helicopter launches into Chinese airspace. He argued that the PLA’s response was “quite restrained” and noted that China’s public disclosure of specific countermeasures — including the use of electronic interference — was a strategic communications move to preempt any Dutch claims of Chinese aggression.

Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), told the same outlet that some Western countries, particularly non-US powers, sometimes operate more aggressively in the region due to less familiarity with local red lines. He described some of these “demonstrative, presence-showing” military operations as “crude and unprofessional.”

A Pattern of Encounters

This is not the first confrontation between Chinese and Dutch naval forces. In 2024, the Zr. Ms. Tromp was circled by Chinese fighter jets in the East China Sea during a UN sanctions monitoring mission. The Netherlands typically deploys a warship to the Indo-Pacific every two years.

The incident also unfolds against a backdrop of broader China-Netherlands tensions beyond the maritime domain, including disputes over semiconductor technology exports by Dutch firm ASML and the treatment of Dutch chip company Nexperia.

Broader Regional Implications

The confrontation comes as China continues to expand its military footprint in the South China Sea. According to the Maritime Executive, Chinese contractors have been actively expanding Antelope Reef through dredging, potentially creating the largest artificial island in the region. The reef expansion follows a pattern established in the Spratly Islands, where land reclamation preceded the construction of military facilities including naval harbors and airstrips.

The Netherlands joins a growing list of European and Western nations — including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia — that have deployed naval assets to challenge China’s sweeping “ten-dash line” claims in the South China Sea. The 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in The Hague rejected China’s claims, but Beijing has refused to acknowledge the decision.

What’s Next

With the De Ruyter continuing its deployment toward RIMPAC 2026, analysts will be watching for any further interactions between the Dutch frigate and Chinese forces as it transits through the region. The incident has also raised questions about whether the Netherlands will adjust its operational protocols for future Indo-Pacific deployments.

China’s Southern Theater Command has stated it will “maintain a high state of alert at all times and resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security and regional peace and stability.”