China Expels Dutch Warship from Disputed South China Sea Waters

China has expelled a Dutch naval vessel sailing in the South China Sea. The firm action comes as Beijing continues to reinforce its claims in the region.

According to Newsweek, on Thursday (28 May 2026), Chinese military used electronic warfare tactics to force the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter to leave the area after the fleet entered waters near the disputed Paracel Islands. The expulsion highlights growing international opposition to China’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, asserted by Beijing through the nine-dash line.

China claims historical rights over almost the entire South China Sea via the nine-dash line and baseline claims around the Paracel Islands in the west and Spratly Islands in the east. The Dutch ship’s actions immediately triggered strong protests from Beijing.

Chinese military spokesperson Zhai Shichen accused the Dutch vessel of violating China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime and air security. Zhai claimed the warship had launched several helicopter sorties and entered Chinese airspace.

‘The Dutch actions… severely undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea and could easily lead to misunderstandings and miscalculations,’ said Zhai Shichen.

The HNLMS De Ruyter is a 6,000-tonne Dutch air defence frigate equipped with NH90 helicopters designed for anti-submarine warfare and other roles, including maritime search and rescue. In response to Beijing’s allegations, Dutch naval authorities issued an official clarification.

Dutch Navy spokesperson Marinka Hiraldo Vos-van Kooten stated the frigate was not in Chinese territorial waters. Vos-van Kooten said their operations were fully compliant with international law.

‘HNLMS De Ruyter continues to sail in areas where free movement is permitted. We do not provide further details for operational reasons,’ Vos-van Kooten told Newsweek in an email.

In 2016, the Hague arbitration court, handling a case filed by the Philippines, ruled that many of China’s claims violated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The international treaty was signed by Beijing in 1982 and ratified in 1996.

Although Beijing rejected the ruling, the Netherlands is among Western governments, including the United States, that support the legal findings.

While the US Navy has repeatedly conducted freedom of navigation operations near the Paracel and Spratly Islands, this maneuver appears to mark the first time the Netherlands has taken similar action in the Paracels.

The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most contested waterways, with overlapping territorial claims involving China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. China’s claims also overlap with Brunei’s and Indonesia’s exclusive economic zones.

China seized control of the Paracel Islands after naval clashes with Vietnam in the 1970s. Since then, Beijing has spent years expanding military infrastructure on artificial islands throughout the region.

The De Ruyter was reportedly deployed to the Indo-Pacific in April for a five-month mission focused on regional security cooperation. During its voyage, the ship conducted exercises with India and Indonesia before entering the South China Sea.

Upon arriving in Manila last weekend, the Dutch embassy stated the deployment reflected the country’s deep commitment to maritime security.

‘A commitment to maritime security, freedom of navigation, and deepening relationships with regional partners,’ the Dutch embassy said in a statement.

Satellite tracking data shows the warship left Manila on Monday. Previously, Dutch naval forces had encountered Chinese military units during operations in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait in 2024 while enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea.

China’s increasingly assertive stance in Asian waters is expected to dominate discussions at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s largest annual defence forum, held from 29 to 31 May. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Dutch Defence Chief Onno Eichelsheim are scheduled to speak at the event.

The escalating tensions have drawn sharp criticism from Chinese state media. In a Thursday editorial, the government-run China Daily described the latest incident as merely the tip of the iceberg of foreign military manoeuvres in the South China Sea.

‘The South China Sea is increasingly being used as a stage for geopolitical posturing, where non-regional countries demonstrate strength to align with America’s ’Indo-Pacific’ strategy aimed at pressuring China,’ the China Daily editorial stated, according to Newsweek.

The Chinese state media also portrayed Western military actions as clear provocations. The editorial stressed that such foreign moves would only strengthen Beijing’s resolve to defend its territory.

‘Provocative actions will only reinforce China’s determination to safeguard its rights and interests,’ the newspaper added.