China says it drove away Dutch frigate near disputed Paracel Islands

Published by Albis · 30 May 2026

China’s military said it used warnings and electronic interference against the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter near the Paracel Islands, while the Netherlands denied China’s account of unauthorised activity

• • European naval presence is colliding more directly with Chinese maritime claims, widening the dispute’s stakeholder base.
• • China’s military released footage of an encounter with the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, according to Newsweek.
• • Beijing said Chinese naval and air forces used warnings and electronic interference to drive the ship away.
• • The encounter took place on Wednesday near the Paracel Island group, which China controls and which remains disputed.