Last week, the Dutch Navy frigate HNLMS Tromp passing through the Taiwan Strait has sparked dissatisfaction from the Chinese Communist Party. The warship was supporting a United Nations mission in the East China Sea on Friday, but Chinese military aircraft repeatedly flew over the frigate and even approached a Dutch helicopter. The Dutch Ministry of Defense criticized this, stating that it created a potentially unsafe situation.
According to the introduction from the Dutch Ministry of Defense, earlier on Friday, the Dutch navy frigate HNLMS Tromp was conducting patrol missions in the East China Sea region to support the supervision of the enforcement of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on maritime sanctions against North Korea.
The statement mentioned that two Chinese military jets repeatedly flew over the HNLMS Tromp. Additionally, during the patrol, the NH90 maritime combat helicopter of the HNLMS Tromp was approached by two Chinese military aircraft and a Chinese helicopter.
“This has created a potentially unsafe situation. The incident took place in international airspace,” stated the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
According to The EurAsian Times website, photos released by the Dutch Ministry of Defense show a Z-19 light reconnaissance/attack helicopter and a JH-7 fighter-bomber involved in the incident.
In response to the incident, Dutch Member of Parliament Ruben Brekelmans expressed his concerns on the social media platform X, saying, “China (the Chinese Communist Party) is now intimidating our Dutch navy ships in international waters and airspace. Such dangerous situations should not be tolerated and require a strong diplomatic response. The Netherlands will not allow itself to be intimidated and will stand up for freedom of navigation, which is crucial!”
Prior to this incident, the Dutch vessel had passed through the Taiwan Strait last week, which had also raised objections from the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated its firm opposition to using the pretext of freedom of passage to endanger China’s sovereignty and security.
Last week, the NOS reported that the HNLMS Tromp’s transit through the Taiwan Strait reflects a significant change in Dutch policy. In 2021, the Dutch Navy frigate HNLMS Evertsen had avoided the Taiwan Strait on the grounds that unnecessarily provoking the Chinese Communist Party was deemed unwise.
The HNLMS Tromp is currently on a six-month global deployment, heading towards Japan and then moving on to Hawaii to participate in a large-scale military exercise to be held there. Despite the recent events, the Dutch Ministry of Defense confirmed that the ship will continue its journey as planned.
“As part of ‘Pacific Archer ’24,’ the HNLMS Tromp is continuing its journey as planned and is currently en route to Japan,” stated the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet announced on May 22 that the 2024 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC 2024) is set to take place from June 26 to August 2. This exercise will involve 29 countries in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
The incident of Chinese military aircraft threatening a Dutch warship is the latest in a series of provocations by the Chinese military against other countries in international waters. Last month, Australia condemned the “unsafe and unprofessional” behavior of Chinese military aircraft in the Yellow Sea region. Australia stated that a MH-60R Seahawk helicopter was on a mission in the Yellow Sea when Chinese military aircraft launched illuminating flares along the helicopter’s flight path.
“This was an unsafe operation that posed risks to the aircraft and personnel,” Australia remarked.