HNLMS De Ruyter (F804) underway at sea. (Royal Netherlands Navy / Koninklijke Marine)
The Royal Netherlands Navy’s command frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (F804), docked in Manila port for three days from May 22 until 24, participating in a joint drill as part of their “Pacific Archer” mission—a five-month deployment mission within the Indo-Pacific region. The frigate’s arrival in Manila coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the Netherlands.
Dutch Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts used the occasion to reaffirm Amsterdam’s commitment to regional stability, stating that “[s]tability and security in this region” are vital to the Netherlands’ strategic interests. “That’s why we are considering all options, and I think the frigate visit is a first step,” she said.
Commanding Officer Captain Rodger de Wit, who is in charge of commanding the HNLMS De Ruyter frigate, emphasised the Netherlands’ strong support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Ambassador Geraedts also echoed similar sentiments, voicing firm backing for the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award and guaranteeing the rule of law in the contested South China Sea.
During the visit, the two navies conducted interoperability activities, including a communication drill, maneuvering exercises at sea and sharing tactical procedures to prevent maritime miscalculations.
The joint operation prompted a massive protest from Beijing. According to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s Southern Theater Command, on 27 May, the HNLMS De Ruyter and its embarked helicopter entered the airspace of the Xisha Qundao, known as the Paracel Islands, which China claims as its own.
Zhai Shichen, the spokesperson for the PLA in the Southern Theater Command, condemned the frigate’s presence and its helicopter operations, calling them provocative acts within Chinese-claimed territory. Consequently, the Chinese deployed its maritime and air forces to push the frigate out of its territory. “China firmly opposes such acts,” Zhai declared, pressuring the Netherlands to stop such actions that could damage and undermine peace in the South China Sea.
Beyond security, the Netherlands also played an important role in mitigating the hantavirus outbreak on the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius, which carried 38 Filipino crew members. They were evacuated to the Netherlands to be transferred to local facilities to finish a 42-day quarantine.
The frigate’s visit to Manila underlines the Netherlands’ active role in supporting Manila’s strategic interests. This cooperation embodies the principle of “shared strategic interests”, as emphasised by the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen during their mid-May bilateral meeting.
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