Ruptly
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command has released footage on Friday it says shows Chinese naval and air forces intercepting and escorting the Dutch Navy NH90 shipborne helicopter away from the Xisha Islands. Footage filmed on Wednesday shows Chinese vessels tracking the Dutch frigate 'HNLMS De Ruyter' and its helicopter operating in the area. Chinese military was heard issuing repeated radio warnings, ordering the helicopter to leave what Beijing described as its territorial airspace. "The Dutch NH-90 helicopter. This is Hull 553 of the Chinese Navy. You are violating the territorial airspace of the People's Republic of China. Leave now! Leave immediately!" a Chinese naval officer says in the recording. The Southern Theatre Command said the Dutch ship 'illegally intruded' into waters near the Paracel Islands and conducted repeated helicopter operations it considered airspace violations. It added that naval and air units were deployed to 'expel and drive away' the vessel. The footage also shows Chinese ships Hull 631 and Hull 626 operating nearby, with fighter jets reportedly deployed during the encounter. China's defence ministry urged the Netherlands to strictly restrain its front-line forces and stop 'provocative actions'. The Dutch Ministry of Defence stated the frigate was operating in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."
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