On Sunday, France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, along with its accompanying warships, made a port call in the Philippines. This visit followed a series of combat drills conducted with Filipino forces in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, a gesture likely to provoke the ire of China.
The Charles de Gaulle arrived at Subic Bay, a former U.S. Naval base located northwest of Manila, on Friday for a short rest following over two months of operations in the Indo-Pacific region. French naval officials detailed that the aircraft carrier performed various exercises with security allies to enhance readiness and promote regional stability, specifically engaging with Philippine military forces. The exercises included anti-submarine warfare training and aerial combat drills conducted in the contentious South China Sea.
Last year, the French navy took a significant step by deploying a frigate for the first time alongside U.S. and Philippine forces, participating in joint naval exercises in the contested waters. These exercises, referred to as Balikatan (which translates to "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Tagalog), involved over 16,000 military personnel, marking a major expansion of military cooperation amongst allied forces in the region. China condemned these exercises, accusing the Philippines of collaborating with external nations, in obvious reference to the United States and its partners, and warned that such drills could lead to increased tensions and destabilization in the area.
The recent military actions by France in the Philippines highlight its "commitment to regional security and the shared objective of strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific," remarked Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Colonel Xerxes Trinidad. The Charles de Gaulle, the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside the U.S. Navy, operated as part of a strike group that included three destroyers and an oil replenishment ship during its inaugural visit to the Philippines.
France's increasing military engagement with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations emphasizes its position against China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, a crucial global trade route. French officials have expressed that their military deployments aim to enhance emergency preparedness but are not specifically directed against any nation.
In response, China has maintained a dismissive stance towards the presence of foreign militaries, particularly the U.S. and its allies conducting joint military exercises or patrols in the South China Sea, which Beijing asserts as its territory, despite the lack of clear delimitations for its claims. These Chinese claims conflict with those of neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, resulting in ongoing territorial disputes. Additionally, Indonesia has experienced confrontations with Chinese maritime forces in its Natuna waters.
Recently, Australia lodged a complaint after a Chinese J-16 fighter jet conducted a close-range maneuver by releasing flares near an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. The Australian military reported no damages or injuries from the incident, but Chinese officials accused Australia of intentionally breaching its airspace over the Paracel Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam.
Furthermore, in late 2023, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu engaged with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro to finalize an accord aimed at enhancing military cooperation and joint activities. Last year, discussions began on a potential defense pact that would allow for mutual military exercises on each other's territories. A draft of this agreement has been shared for negotiations. The Philippines has similarly established agreements with the U.S., Australia, and is in the final stages of ratification for a pact with Japan while also wrapping up talks with New Zealand regarding a similar defense collaboration.
