China's military Southern Theatre Command said the Dutch frigate De Ruyter illegally entered Chinese territorial waters near the Paracel (Xisha) Islands and repeatedly launched a shipborne helicopter into Chinese airspace, prompting a response [1, 2]. The PLA Southern Theatre Command employed verbal warnings and electronic countermeasures to drive away the Dutch warship, according to Chinese officials [1, 2, 3].
A PLA spokesman, Zhai Shichen, warned that the Dutch frigate "was extremely liable to trigger misunderstanding and miscalculation," highlighting the risks of the encounter [1]. The Southern Theatre Command condemned the Dutch navy's actions as serious violations of China's territorial sovereignty and international law, and said they threatened peace and stability in the South China Sea [1, 2].
The Dutch Defence Ministry denied that De Ruyter had entered Chinese territorial waters, saying the ship was sailing legally in international waters. A ministry spokeswoman said, "The ship is sailing on, in waters where free movement is allowed. The ship continues its planned route and is operating on the basis of international law" [2].
Military analyst and former PLA air force pilot Fu Qianshao said the electronic countermeasures probably involved electromagnetic jamming aimed at disrupting communications, radar, or sensors. "This can involve transmitting electromagnetic signals to disrupt an adversary’s communications, radar or sensors – either through broad-spectrum barrage jamming or by targeting specific frequencies and wavelengths," he explained [3].
Earlier in May, foreign ministers from the US, India, Japan, and Australia expressed concern over military provocations in the South and East China Seas without naming China specifically. They criticized dangerous maneuvers and blocking actions reported around the same time [2].
The Chinese military announced on May 28 that it had driven away the Dutch frigate near the Paracel Islands using verbal warnings and electronic interference. The Dutch ship reportedly operated near the islands and flew helicopters as early as May 27 or before, according to Chinese statements [1, 2].
