Originally Nederland #6 >>13337113
(translated via Yandex)
25 March 2021
Also at sea, the Netherlands does not want to give way to Chinese intimidation: frigate sails with British squadron towards South China Sea
In a step that can further sharpen the relationship with China, the Dutch frigate Zr. Ms. Evertsen later this year visit Japan and probably also sail through the South China Sea claimed by China. The frigate will be part of a British fleet. France, Germany and Canada are also sending naval vessels to these waters this year to underline the importance of free passage.
China claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, leading to increasing tensions in the region. European countries are increasingly concerned about this and want to make a gesture against Chinese intimidation in the area. According to them, the Chinese claim goes against the UN Convention on the law of the Sea. Last month, a French nuclear submarine and a French Frigate also patrolled the South China Sea.
DoD says it's too early to give details about the planned trip. The global vlootverband, which consists of the new British aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, will be in Japan on vlootbezoeken to the allies and friends of the Asian countries, according to the site Marineschepen.nl. The Evertsen was one of the so-called air defense, and commandofregat, which is in the Uk, the squadron – which also includes frigates, supply ships, and submarines, are included as a contribution to the defence.
Asked about a possible sailing route through the South China Sea, a defence spokesperson says: 'the Evertsen's journey has been discussed in the cabinet and so far this has not led us to say: we do not do certain things.’ The Netherlands has already been asked by the British for this contribution in 2018. ‘Our starting point is that we do not violate the UN Convention on the law of the Sea. For US, participation offers unprecedented opportunities to practice in such a large fleet.’
UK security strategy
The British-led fleet Association, which leaves at the end of May and returns in december, will be the first long-term operational deployment for the Queen Elisabeth, one of the two aircraft carriers with which the British want to underline the global nature of their new security strategy. China warned the British in January against sending warships to these waters.
For the VVD it is no problem if the frigate crosses the South China Sea. ‘The Chinese claim to the South China Sea is not supported by international law’, says VVD MP Sven Koopmans. 'We support the right to free passage through international waters. That is extremely important.’ The CDA is still brooding on a point of view. Bram van Ojik (GroenLinks) believes that the Netherlands should not be held back by Chinese claims, but argues for transparency, for example by informing the country in advance, and ‘not unnecessarily provoking’ China.
Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (D66), who was hit this week by China's sanctions in response to EU measures, does not want to react until it has been confirmed that the Netherlands will participate in a so-called freedom of navigation operation (Fonop). However, according to the Ministry of Defence, there is no such operation that deliberately stays for a longer period of time (’laps of danger‘) in disputed waters – something different from an ordinary Transit, which is now the case. The increasing European presence in Asia and the South China Sea is no coincidence. China is increasingly on NATO's radar and the Chinese pressure on countries in (and outside) the region has not gone unnoticed.
https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/ook-op-zee-wil-nederland-niet-wijken-voor-chinese-intimidatie-fregat-vaart-mee-met-brits-eskader-richting-zuid-chinese-zee~b3a2f44f/