It's truly unexpected! Led by the United States, 14 countries issued a warning to China urging compliance with the South China Sea arbitration ruling—but the Netherlands deliberately distanced itself from the U.S., refusing to echo its statement! On July 12, according to foreign media reports, the United States, along with Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, the Philippines, Romania, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom, exerted pressure on us, demanding that we abide by the arbitration outcome.
However, what surprised many was that the Netherlands—previously known for its strained relations with us—was conspicuously absent from this list of signatories. This omission is indeed noteworthy. In fact, the arbitral tribunal for the South China Sea case is located in The Hague, Netherlands, making it the nominal "host country." The Dutch absence is therefore particularly intriguing. Of course, the Netherlands' non-participation was no accident—it was a carefully calculated move.
Previously, the Netherlands sent a warship into the Xisha Islands (Paracel Islands) independently and openly expressed support for the arbitration result. Now, however, it deliberately chose not to join the joint statement—not because its stance has changed, but because it has its own strategic calculations. The Netherlands clearly understands that unilateral statements carry different political implications compared to coordinated group endorsements. By speaking alone, the Netherlands retains flexibility—both politically and strategically. But if it aligns with the U.S.-led coalition, then in the event of any escalation in U.S.-China tensions over the South China Sea, the Netherlands would be forced to take a side without room to disengage or retreat.
Moreover, Sino-Dutch economic ties remain close. Although past trade friction had damaged bilateral relations, they have only recently stabilized and begun to improve. The Netherlands is keen to preserve this fragile progress and safeguard its vital economic relationship with China. Additionally, as the host nation of the arbitration proceedings, the Netherlands must uphold The Hague’s reputation as a neutral global center for dispute resolution. The Permanent Court of Arbitration merely provides facilities and administrative services—it does not represent the Dutch government’s official position. Therefore, the Netherlands’ decision not to join the statement is entirely a result of careful strategic weighing and calculation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870478059254794/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.