China tracks Dutch frigatetracks Dutch frigate in Taiwan Strait
China’s military said on Friday that it tracked and monitored the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter as it transited the Taiwan Strait. Beijing said the same ship had earlier entered the airspace near the Paracel Islands, and the episode matters because such passages remain a sensitive test of military presence and maritime claims in the region.
Chinese military
China’s Eastern Theatre Command said it dispatched naval and air assets to follow the frigate and handled the situation effectively. It also said the ship had illegally entered airspace over the Paracel Islands before moving through the Taiwan Strait.
Dutch side
The articles do not include a direct Dutch statement on the incident. From the Dutch ship’s perspective, the transit would normally be understood as passage through an international waterway rather than a challenge to Chinese sovereignty.
- The Netherlands has been sending ships farther into Asia as part of wider European naval deployments.
- The Taiwan Strait is roughly 130 kilometers wide at its narrowest point.
- The Paracel Islands are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
US-China Indo-Pacific Rivalry
China and Taiwan coast guard vessels have repeatedly faced off near the Pratas Islands, with the latest standoff showing how small maritime incidents around Taiwan can quickly become confrontations.[1][5] The episode adds to wider U.S.-China military tension across the Indo-Pacific, where Beijing is expanding patrols and Washington is reinforcing regional deterrence.[2][3] The rivalry now centers on preventing miscalculation around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and nearby sea lanes.[1][3][5] It also shapes defense planning by Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States as all sides weigh coercion, sovereignty claims, and the risk of escalation.[2][3]
24 May, 07:39 AM
Taiwan and China coast guards face off near Pratas islands1 January
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