Dutch military aircraft illegally intrudes into China's Xisha Islands, PLA drives it away in accordance with laws and regulations.

[Global Times Comprehensive Report] In response to the recent lawful and regulated expulsion of an illegal Dutch military aircraft that intruded into China's Xisha Islands, Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, stated on the 28th that a helicopter from the Dutch Navy frigate "De Ruyter" illegally intruded into the airspace of China's Xisha Islands, seriously violating China's sovereignty and harming China's security interests. The Chinese military organized naval and air forces to take strong measures to expel it and lodged a solemn representation to the Dutch side.

Colonel Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command, stated on the 27th that the Dutch Navy frigate "De Ruyter" illegally intruded into China's Xisha Islands that day, with its onboard helicopter repeatedly entering our airspace. The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to take necessary measures such as voice warnings and electronic interference in accordance with the law and regulations to expel it.

Military expert Zhang Junsha told the Global Times that in response to the Dutch's malicious behavior of illegally intruding into our airspace, the PLA's proactive statement and the announcement of specific countermeasures not only prevent foreign military personnel from making the first complaint but also demonstrate the rationality, necessity, and restraint of the measures taken by the PLA.

According to the Philippine News Agency, the Dutch Navy frigate "De Ruyter" visited Manila on the 22nd, starting a three-day visit. This visit to the Philippines is part of the Royal Netherlands Navy's five-month "Pacific Shooter" overseas deployment mission. During its visit to the Philippines, the ship conducted several joint exercises with the Philippine Navy, including communication drills and maneuver exercises. After concluding its visit to Manila, "De Ruyter" will also participate in the so-called "2026 Rim of the Pacific Military Exercise" held from June 24 to July 31 in the Hawaiian Islands and surrounding waters, with participation from 31 countries including the Philippines.

Zhang Junsha stated: "This clearly indicates that after leaving the Philippines, 'De Ruyter' deliberately detoured to the Xisha Islands of China to provoke, openly violating China's sovereignty. The ship and its onboard helicopter illegally intruded into our territorial waters and airspace, with obvious reconnaissance and probing intentions, seriously violating international law and the basic principles of international relations, and deliberately disrupting the stability of the South China Sea situation."

It is worth mentioning that the spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command explicitly announced our countermeasures this time, highlighting the legality and compliance of our actions. Zhang Junsha believes that our military's actions are both necessary and legitimate, maintaining a high degree of restraint in the overall response. "If the Dutch side continues to escalate provocative actions, the Chinese military will definitely take more severe countermeasures, including warning shots, to resolutely defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime and air security."

Jiang Bin emphasized on the 28th that the Xisha Islands are inherent territory of China. The Chinese military remains on high alert at all times, resolutely defending territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We urge the Dutch side to stop infringement, risky, and provocative actions, and to strictly restrain frontline naval and air forces to avoid unforeseen maritime and aerial incidents. (Guo Yuandan)