China's military said on Friday it had sent naval and air forces to track and monitor the Dutch frigate “De Ruyter” transiting the Taiwan Strait, Reuters reports.
The Netherlands said the warship was sailing through the region for diplomatic, security and economic reasons and was operating in accordance with international law.
Last week, Beijing accused the same frigate of illegally trespassing into the disputed Paracel Islands archipelago in the South China Sea, a charge to which the Dutch government gave the same response.
The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (ETC) stated in a press release that “ETC forces will remain on high alert at all times and will firmly defend China's sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability.”
In addition to claiming sovereignty over the democratically governed island of Taiwan, Beijing considers the Taiwan Strait – a narrow and highly strategic waterway – to be Chinese territorial waters.
