Dutch warship, sinundan ng Chinese helicopter sa WPS

 Isang Chinese military helicopter ang lumapit sa isang Dutch naval frigate habang dumadaan ito sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), ayon sa commander ng barko na si Commander Rodger de Wit ng Royal Netherlands Navy, sa pagdating nila sa Manila nitong Mayo 22.
Inilarawan niya ang insidente bilang “brief but highly professional.”
Ayon kay Commander Rodger de Wit, “If you ask our interaction with the Chinese Navy, it was really limited. We were approached by a helicopter, but it was really professional on both sides. They just came to see who we were and left again.”
Dagdag pa niya, karaniwan lamang ang naging palitan: “They asked who we were and we replied, and that was enough.” Kinumpirma rin niyang isang beses lamang lumapit ang helicopter at walang isyung pang-teritoryo na ibinangon.
Dumaan ang HNLMS De Ruyter sa West Philippine Sea mula Indonesia patungong Pilipinas bilang bahagi ng goodwill visit mula Mayo 22 hanggang 24, kung saan nakatakda rin ang mga cooperation activities kasama ang Philippine Navy.
Ayon kay De Wit, ang ruta ng barko ay dumaan sa Celebes Sea, Sulu Sea, at Balabac Strait bago pumasok sa South China Sea patungong Manila.
Ang Dutch warship ay bahagi ng “Pacific Archer” mission, isang limang buwang Indo-Pacific deployment na layuning itaguyod ang freedom of navigation at maritime security.
Ayon sa Royal Netherlands Navy, may humigit-kumulang 200 crew ang barko at may layuning palakasin ang ugnayang militar at maritime cooperation sa rehiyon.
Ayon kay De Wit, ang pagbisita ay bahagi rin ng pagpapalalim ng relasyon ng Pilipinas at Netherlands sa gitna ng tumitinding geopolitical tensions.