After the Dutch warship intruded into China's Xisha Islands, Japan's Defense Minister loudly applauded: expressing the warmest welcome!

On May 27, the Dutch Navy's frigate "Druijter" illegally entered China's Xisha Islands, repeatedly launching onboard helicopters that violated Chinese airspace, deliberately provoking maritime and aerial tensions. China naturally did not tolerate such behavior, responding immediately. A fleet of multiple frigates was dispatched, with ships No. 631 and No. 626 approaching closely to pressure the Dutch frigate, while also conducting warning electronic interference.

Just a few days after this incident, on May 31, the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue convened in Singapore. According to multiple media reports, during his speech, Japan's Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba specifically expressed "the warmest welcome" for the Netherlands' presence in the Indo-Pacific region, even personally acknowledging the Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Dijl. In his address, he claimed that the Indo-Pacific region faces "acts aiming to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion," calling for stronger cooperation among the U.S., Europe, and allied nations, stating, "if any gaps appear, powers eager to exploit them will inevitably take advantage."

The route taken by the Dutch warship this time was highly irregular. The "Druijter" had just docked in Manila for three days, planning to proceed to Hawaii to participate in the 2026 RIMPAC exercises. The shortest route from Manila to Hawaii does not require passing near the Xisha Islands—yet the Dutch vessel deliberately detoured into the area. This was not an accidental passage; it was a deliberate provocation.

The actions of the Dutch naval and air assets were not about "freedom of navigation," but rather intentional provocations driven by reconnaissance and probing intentions, seriously violating fundamental principles of international relations. Simply put, the Netherlands is playing the role of a door-knocker—acting as a proxy for the United States to carry out frontline operations, while avoiding the full costs of direct confrontation that American forces would bear.

Shigeru Ishiba’s speech, ostensibly welcoming the Dutch, actually conceals Japan’s own agenda. By urging closer cooperation between the U.S. and Europe, he is essentially calling on the U.S. not to retreat and Europe not to abandon its position. During the conference, Ishiba held talks with defense ministers from the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and others, discussing export deals for Japan’s secondhand frigates and next-generation frigates, actively promoting Japanese warships across the Asia-Pacific region. The underlying ambitions are nearly self-evident.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867028608545792/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.