Chinese military harassed Dutch warship enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea, Netherlands says

Seoul, South Korea CNN —

A Dutch warship was harassed by Chinese military aircraft in the East China Sea on Friday, the Netherlands said, becoming the latest country to accuse Beijing’s forces of initiating potentially unsafe encounters in international waters.

In a statement Friday, the Dutch Defense Ministry said two Chinese fighter jets circled the frigate HNLMS Tromp several times, while its marine patrol helicopter was “approached” by two Chinese warplanes and a helicopter during a patrol.

“This created a potentially unsafe situation,” the statement said.

CNN has asked the Chinese government for comment on the Dutch accusations.

The Tromp was operating in the East China Sea in support of a multinational coalition enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea, known as the Pacific Security Maritime Exchange (PSMX), according to a statement from the European Union.

The UN Security Council has passed multiple resolutions since 2006 imposing sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear weapons program.

PSMX partner nations include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the US State Department.

This handout picture shows the Dutch frigate Tromp approached in the East China Sea by a Chinese fighter jet.

Before patrolling in the East China Sea, the Dutch frigate had made a port call in Busan, South Korea, where it participated in exercises with the South Korean Navy, the EU statement said.

Tromp joins a growing list of vessels and aircraft that have accused China’s People’s Liberation Army of conducting possibly unsafe maneuvers in the East and South China Seas and beyond in recent years.

Last month, Australia accused a Chinese