A Dutch frigate operating in the East China Sea in support of a multinational coalition enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea – the Pacific Security Maritime Exchange (PSMX) – was allegedly harassed by Chinese military aircraft, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a 7 June announcement.
According the MoD, the two Chinese aircraft – one of which appeared to be a JH-7 attack aircraft – circled the De Zeven Provinciën-class missile frigate HNLMS Tromp several times, while its NH90 naval helicopter was also approached by two Chinese aircraft and a helicopter during a patrol mission.
“This created a potentially unsafe situation,” said the MoD in its statement.
Before patrolling under the aegis of PSMX in the East China Sea, Tromp had made a port call in Busan, South Korea, where it participated in exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN). PSMX partner countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Netherlands is the latest country to accuse Chinese forces of initiating potentially unsafe encounters in international waters. In May, Australia alleged that a a Chinese fighter aircraft had launched flares into the path of a naval helicopter operating from the air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart over international waters of the Yellow Sea. Hobart was also enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea at the time.
In October 2023, Canada claimed that it experienced similar incidents with belligerent Chinese aircraft, with a J-11 aircraft launching flares into the path of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa operating in the South China Sea in late October,.
Two weeks before the South China Sea encounter, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora patrol aircraft reported an unsafe intercept by a Chinese J-10 aircraft while it was supporting the UN enforcement of sanctions on North Korea. The particular incident was also witnessed and documented by news crew on board CP-140.
A Dutch frigate operating in the East China Sea in support of a multinational coalition enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea – the Pacific Security Maritime Exchange (PSMX) – was allegedly harassed by Chinese military aircraft, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a 7 June announcement.
According the MoD, the two Chinese aircraft – one of which appeared to be a JH-7 attack aircraft – circled the De Zeven Provinciën-class missile frigate HNLMS Tromp several times, while its NH90 naval helicopter was also approached by two Chinese aircraft and a helicopter during a patrol mission.
“This created a potentially unsafe situation,” said the MoD in its statement.
Before patrolling under the aegis of PSMX in the East China Sea, Tromp had made a port call in Busan, South Korea, where it participated in exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN). PSMX partner countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Netherlands is the latest country to accuse Chinese forces of initiating potentially unsafe encounters in international waters. In May, Australia alleged that a a Chinese fighter aircraft had launched flares into the path of a naval helicopter operating from the air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart over international waters of the Yellow Sea. Hobart was also enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea at the time.
In October 2023, Canada claimed that it experienced similar incidents with belligerent Chinese aircraft, with a J-11 aircraft launching flares into the path of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa operating in the South China Sea in late October.
Two weeks before the South China Sea encounter, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora patrol aircraft reported an unsafe intercept by a Chinese J-10 aircraft while it was supporting the UN enforcement of sanctions on North Korea. The particular incident was also witnessed and documented by news crew on board CP-140.
by Jr Ng
