The Tromp was deployed to the East
China Sea to join in the international monitoring mission for enforcement of UN
sanctions on North Korea. While the Tromp was under way in international
waters, two Chinese fighters made a close approach to the frigate. "This
created a potentially unsafe situation," the ministry warned. After this incident, the Tromp's helicopter
was approached by a Chinese helicopter and two fighter jets.
The
encounter concluded without mishap and Tromp continued onwards to her journey,
headed for Japan. She will be crossing the Pacific to join in the U.S. Navy's
RIMPAC 2024 exercise off Hawaii, which begins June 26 and runs until early
August.
The run-in
was the latest in a long series of tense interactions between the Chinese
military and the Western warships tasked with enforcing UN sanctions on North
Korea. Though it is a signatory to the
sanctions measures, China is widely believed to allow banned maritime trade
with Pyongyang.
Tensions
between China and Western-allied neighbors are also running high. Last week,
the Philippines accused Chinese forces of stealing a food drop near the
Philippine base at Second Thomas Shoal. The China Coast Guard intercepted one
out of the four parcels that were parachute-dropped to the outpost during an
airborne supply run in mid-May. During that altercation, the China Coast Guard
boats moved to within five meters of the base, prompting Philippine marines to
draw firearms as a precautionary measure.
China routinely blockades the outpost using its coast guard and maritime
militia vessels, often with aggressive and hazardous tactics.
The Armed
Forces of the Philippines has also accused the China Coast Guard
of attempting to forcibly block a medical evacuation at Second Thomas
Shoal last month. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Cmdre. Jay Tarriela said
that Chinese vessels intentionally
rammed a rigid hull inflatable and made multiple attempts to cut off the
medevac vessels.