China Says Naval and Air Forces Repelled Dutch Frigate Near Paracel Islands

BEIJING, May 27 (Reuters) — China’s military said it had scrambled naval vessels and fighter jets to drive away a Dutch frigate after accusing the vessel of an illegal intrusion into the waters surrounding the Paracel Islands, a flashpoint in the contested South China Sea.

The incident, confirmed by People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command spokesperson Zhai Shichen, involved carrier-based helicopters that he said repeatedly took off from the Dutch ship and “intruded into China’s airspace.” Zhai described the actions as “infringing and provocative” and called on the Netherlands to immediately cease them. He warned that Beijing would “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security.”

The Dutch frigate, part of a naval task group recently operating in the region, was reportedly conducting freedom-of-navigation operations. The encounter underscores the growing friction between China and European navies over maritime rights in the South China Sea, where Beijing claims vast areas including the Paracels. The Netherlands has not yet publicly responded to China’s account. Analysts note the episode follows a pattern of Chinese military warnings against foreign naval activities, raising the risk of unintended escalation in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

China’s stance on the South China Sea has hardened in recent years, with the military frequently intercepting and shadowing foreign ships. The incident with the Dutch frigate is likely to reignite debate over rules of engagement and the balance between free navigation and China’s territorial claims.

(Reporting by Yukun Zhang, Shi Bu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Toby Chopra)