China Says It Monitored Dutch Warship Transit Through Taiwan Strait
Beijing– China’s military said on Friday it tracked and monitored the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter as it sailed through the Taiwan Strait, describing the operation as having been handled “effectively.”
The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said it deployed naval and air forces to monitor the vessel during its passage through the strategically sensitive waterway.
The statement followed China’s accusation last week that the same Dutch warship had illegally entered waters near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The Netherlands rejected the claim, saying the vessel was operating in accordance with international law during a deployment focused on diplomatic, security and economic interests.
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and regards the Taiwan Strait as part of its territorial waters, a position disputed by many Western governments, which view the waterway as an international passage.
The Dutch navy did not immediately comment on China’s latest statement.The transit highlights continuing tensions over freedom of navigation and competing territorial claims in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
