China's military says it tracked Dutch frigate in Taiwan Strait
Incident Overview and International Responses
BEIJING, June 5 (Reuters) - China's military said on Friday it had dispatched naval and air assets to track and monitor the Dutch frigate De Ruyter transiting the Taiwan Strait.
Netherlands' Position and Justification
The Netherlands said the warship was sailing through the region for diplomatic, security and economic reasons and was operating in accordance with international law.
Previous South China Sea Incident
Beijing last week said the same frigate illegally intruded into the Paracel Islands archipelago in the disputed South China Sea, to which the Dutch government gave the same response.
China's Official Statement
The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command (ETC) said in a statement that "forces of the PLA ETC will stay on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability".
Strategic Importance of the Taiwan Strait
In addition to claiming sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, Beijing views the narrow, highly strategic strait as Chinese territorial waters.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Kevin Liffey)
