ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE, Philippines. France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its strike group conducted combat drills with the Philippine military in the disputed South China Sea, reinforcing regional security cooperation in a move likely to draw Beijing’s ire.
The French carrier, accompanied by three destroyers and an oil replenishment ship, docked at Subic Bay on Friday following over two months of Indo-Pacific deployment. Philippine and French officials confirmed that the naval exercises, which included anti-submarine warfare drills and aerial combat training, took place the same day in the contested waters.
“We aim to deepen our cooperation with regional partners with whom we share common values such as upholding international law and ensuring freedom of navigation in shared maritime spaces,” said French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel during a press conference on the Charles de Gaulle’s flight deck. She spoke with the backdrop of Rafale supersonic fighter jets, an assault helicopter, and a surveillance plane, as the flags of both nations fluttered in the wind.
“Our presence is a constant reminder of the importance of promoting and protecting what unites us all — international law and cooperation,” Fontanel emphasized.
Strengthening Regional Security
The Philippines and France have been strengthening military ties amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. China asserts expansive claims overlapping with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
French defense engagements with the Philippines intensified last year when a French frigate participated for the first time in joint sailing drills with U.S. and Philippine forces as part of the Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder”) exercises, the largest annual combat training between the two allies. The 2023 Balikatan drills involved over 16,000 military personnel.
France’s recent military deployments highlight its “commitment to regional security and the shared goal of strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” said Philippine Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad.
China’s Objections to Foreign Military Presence
Beijing has consistently opposed foreign military presence in the South China Sea, particularly that of the U.S. and its allies. The Chinese government has not publicly defined the exact coordinates of its vast claims, marked by a controversial “10-dash line” on its maps.
China’s aggressive maneuvers have led to frequent confrontations with Southeast Asian nations. Just two weeks ago, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles protested an incident in which a Chinese J-16 fighter jet released flares within 30 meters (100 feet) of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. China responded by accusing the Australian aircraft of “deliberately” intruding into airspace over the contested Paracel Islands, claimed by both Beijing and Vietnam.
Expanding Defense Partnerships
France and the Philippines are currently negotiating a defense agreement that would permit joint military exercises on each other’s territories. French officials have submitted a draft of the agreement to their Filipino counterparts to initiate formal negotiations.
The Philippines has similar defense accords with the United States and Australia, while an agreement with Japan is pending ratification. Additionally, negotiations between New Zealand and the Philippines for a defense cooperation pact have recently concluded.
In December 2023, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro signed a military cooperation agreement to enhance joint engagements, signaling France’s growing commitment to regional security.
With tensions in the South China Sea continuing to escalate, the Philippines’ increasing military collaboration with allies like France underscores its strategic efforts to counter regional threats and uphold international maritime laws.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
