Chinese Use Electronic Warfare Attacks on Dutch Warship in South China Sea, Says PLA

U.S. Naval Institute ^ | MAY 27, 2026 | AARON-MATTHEW LARIOSA

[Retain Mike]

According to the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command (PLA STC), the HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) and its embarked helicopter intruded Wednesday over the airspace of the Paracel Islands, an archipelago under the control of Beijing following its violent seizure from Vietnam in the 1970s.

The Dutch frigate was forced away from the Paracel Islands using “necessary measures” and was “in accordance with laws and regulations,” Senior Captain Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the Chinese PLA STC, said in a news release.

China controls the Paracel Islands via a network of 20 outposts and support forces from the mainland. Through its artificial island bases and outposts, China has forward-deployed a vast network of electronic warfare capabilities across the South China Sea.

“We firmly oppose such acts and solemnly demand that the Dutch side immediately cease its infringement and provocative actions. The Chinese military will maintain a high state of alert at all times and resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security and regional peace and stability,” Zhai said.

The Royal Netherlands Navy De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate is deployed to the Indo-Pacific for Amsterdam’s five-month-long Pacific Archer mission. The mission aims to promote freedom of navigation and foster ties with allies and partners. De Ruyter is also set to attend the Rim of Pacific naval drills around Hawaii later this summer.

The Netherlands also joins a growing number of non-Western Pacific powers to deploy forces in support of freedom of navigation and cooperation with Beijing’s adversaries. China has asserted its control of the majority of the South China Sea under its 10-dash line claim. Fleets of paramilitary fishing vessels, Coast Guard cutters and warships are constantly deployed to back Beijing’s territorial assertions.

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 1970s; 1979; 2026; 202605; aaronmatthewlariosa; amti; antelopereef; artificialislands; ccp; china; deruyter; dutchnavy; electronicwarfare; freedomofnavigation; freedomoftheseas; hnlmsderuyter; indopacific; islands; navaldrills; netherlands; pacificarcher; pacificrim; paracel; paracelislands; reefdestruction; reefs; rimofpacific; rimofthepacific; southchinasea; territorialexpansion; vietnam; zhaishichen

[Retain Mike]

“Paracel Islands, an archipelago under the control of Beijing following its violent seizure from Vietnam in the 1970s.”

Now that is interesting, considering China was a principal supporter of the NVA in the war.

[Leaning Right]

> Now that is interesting, considering China was a principal supporter of the NVA in the war. <

It didn’t get much attention here in the West, but China and Vietnam fought a series of skirmishes after the fall of Saigon.

So much for communist solidarity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Vietnamese_conflicts_(1979%E2%80%931991)

[House Atreides]

The Vietnamese have considered China hostile (for good reason) for over a thousand years. In 1979 the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia to get rid of the madman PolPot. The Chinese didn’t like that so they invaded the north of Vietnam. The Vietnamese proved to be tougher than expected and the Chinese forces used were inexperienced and incompetent. After a few months China wisely decided to “declare victory and withdraw”.

[Seaplaner]

Tyrannical regimes are built on hate, suspicion, and jealousy of others' power and control.

The despots within a country hate each other and also other countries.

And, they are all, or mostly all truly miserable. (Have you ever met a happy uber leftist?)

[Retain Mike]

I remember that episode. The NVA had recently fought a war and the Chinese had not since 1952. Knowing that recent history, the Chinese should have sent their best units.

[Red6]

I always wondered why China went into Vietnam but never researched it.

THX.

[Bookshelf]

As perhaps the last American to visit the Parcels (while under Vietnamese control), given its history I can only imagine the damage done to that small group of island. Once home to thousands of turtles,given Chinese tastes, I imagine that safe-haven is gone. The French cemetery on Paracel itself has likely been bulldozed. Ancient documents held at the Citadel at Hue substantiated Vietnamese sovereignty, but that is only a sometime thing when it comes to China and its neighbors.

[Retain Mike]

Thanks for the insight.

[redinIllinois]

.