China accuses the Netherlands near the Paracels
China said on 27 May that a South China Sea incident involving the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter led its naval and air forces to act near the Paracel Islands. Beijing described the passage as a “serious violation” of national sovereignty and security. According to the Chinese military, the ship used its embarked helicopter several times and entered Chinese airspace. The command said it used verbal warnings and warning electronic interference to push the vessel away.
A disputed archipelago under legal pressure
The incident took place around the Paracels, located between China and Vietnam. China has controlled the archipelago since a 1974 naval clash, but Vietnam and Taiwan also maintain claims. This matters for maritime security: control of islands can be used to support wider claims at sea, while foreign naval passages test how far those claims are enforced in practice.
Under UNCLOS, a coastal state may claim a territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles, but maritime rights remain limited by international law. The 2016 South China Sea arbitration rejected China’s historic rights within the nine-dash line when they exceed UNCLOS. Key point: the De Ruyter case is not only a naval encounter; it also highlights freedom of navigation, disputed sovereignty and the risk of escalation in the South China Sea.
Stay informed with our latest coverage of global maritime and naval security developments:
