The HNLMS Tromp frigate was captured in a photo shared by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Defense on June 7, 2024. The Dutch Ministry of Defense stated that one of its warships was harassed by two Chinese fighter jets while enforcing sanctions on North Korea over the East China Sea. The Chinese aircraft circled the HNLMS Tromp multiple times in international waters, creating a potentially unsafe situation.
This incident is just one example of the many confrontations involving Chinese military activity in the region. There have been reports of China approaching or intimidating warships and aircraft from various countries, including the United States, Australia, and the Philippines. The US has previously raised concerns about the potential for a major incident or accident due to China’s aggressive behavior around the South China Sea.
HNLMS Tromp had been deployed since March, sailing to the Red Sea before heading to the Indo-Pacific in June. It made a stop in Busan, South Korea, as part of its seven-month journey. The frigate was patrolling the East China Sea in support of a multinational UN group overseeing maritime sanctions against North Korea. It is expected to return to Den Helder in the Netherlands in mid-September via the Panama Canal and the Caribbean Sea.
