China's military announced on May 27, 2026, that it had expelled a Dutch frigate from the South China Sea. According to a statement from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the frigate was operating in waters claimed by China, and Chinese naval vessels were dispatched to monitor and warn the Dutch ship.
The PLA statement asserted that the Dutch frigate's presence was a violation of Chinese sovereignty and international law. The military stated that it took necessary measures to drive the frigate away, though specific details of these measures were not provided.
This incident occurs amidst ongoing disputes over territorial claims in the South China Sea, where several nations, including China, have overlapping claims. International naval activities in the region are often closely monitored by claimant states, leading to such encounters.
