A Dutch warship was harassed by two Chinese language fighter jets final Friday because it was imposing maritime sanctions towards North Korea, in accordance with the Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence.
The Chinese language plane circled the HNLMS Tromp, a frigate, a number of occasions whereas it was in worldwide waters, the assertion mentioned.
It added that the warship’s patrol helicopter was additionally “approached” by the Chinese language plane whereas it was patrolling the realm.
“This created a probably unsafe scenario,” the assertion mentioned.
The Netherlands, a NATO founding member, is the most recent nation to assert that China approached or intimidated certainly one of its warships or plane within the area.
In June 2023, China performed a dangerous intercept of a US spy airplane over the South China Sea.
The US additionally launched data in October 2023 reporting a number of cases of aggressive flight conduct by Chinese language planes.
In April, a Chinese language coastguard ship collided with a Philippine vessel contained in the Philippines’ unique financial zone.
And as not too long ago as Could, a Chinese language jet launched flares near an Australian army helicopter over the Yellow Sea.
The US Assistant Secretary of Protection for Indo-Pacific Safety Affairs, Ely Ratner, mentioned in 2022 that China’s more and more aggressive conduct across the South China Sea may finally result in a “main incident or accident.”
In line with the Dutch ministry, HNLMS Tromp had been at sea since March, crusing first to the Purple Sea after which onto the Indo-Pacific in June.
It stopped in Busan, South Korea, on June 3 as a part of its seven-month journey, in accordance with a press launch.
The warship was patrolling the East China Sea in help of a multinational UN group that oversees the implementation of maritime sanctions towards North Korea.
It’s anticipated to return to the Dutch metropolis of Den Helder in mid-September, by way of the Panama Canal and the Caribbean Sea, the ministry mentioned.
