The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said it will remain on high alert after the Dutch frigate De Ruyter transited the Taiwan Strait, days after its helicopter allegedly intruded into airspace near the Paracel Islands.
The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command said on social media that the shipborne helicopter of the Dutch frigate De Ruyter had illegally intruded into the airspace over China’s Xisha Islands and then the frigate transited the Taiwan Strait in less than two weeks. Senior Colonel Xu Chenghua, a spokesman for the theatre command, said the military would stay on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability. Naval and air forces handled the situation effectively. The Netherlands said the warship was sailing through the region for diplomatic, security and economic reasons and was operating in accordance with international law, according to Reuters. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to reunite it with the mainland.
