ABOARD THE CHARLES DE GAULLE, Philippines — The French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its accompanying fleet arrived in the Philippines on Sunday after conducting military exercises alongside Filipino forces in the contested waters of the South China Sea, an action that is likely to heighten tensions with China.
The Charles de Gaulle docked at Subic Bay, a former U.S. Naval base located northwest of Manila, on Friday, taking a respite after over two months of operations in the Indo-Pacific region. The French carrier engaged in joint exercises with security partners, including the Filipino military, involving navy vessels and fighter planes. On Friday, they executed anti-submarine warfare drills and aerial combat training, according to officials from both countries.
French Ambassador to Manila, Marie Fontanel, stated at a press conference held on the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle, “We aim to deepen our cooperation with regional partners who share common values, such as upholding international law and ensuring freedom of navigation in shared maritime areas.”
During her address, Fontanel was positioned near several parked Rafale supersonic fighter jets, an assault helicopter, and a surveillance aircraft, with the flags of France and the Philippines fluttering in the breeze. “Our presence serves as a constant reminder of the importance of promoting and protecting what unites us — international law and cooperation,” she emphasized.
Last year marked the first instance of the French navy deploying a frigate to participate in joint activities with United States and Philippine forces in and around the disputed waters. This involvement was part of the largest joint military exercises conducted in years between American and Filipino forces, known as Balikatan, which means “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog, and included more than 16,000 military personnel.
China was vocally critical of those earlier drills, accusing the Philippines of coordinating with external nations, particularly the U.S. and its allies, and warned that such exercises could provoke conflict and destabilize the region.
The recent and continuing military deployments by France to the Philippines highlight their commitment to ongoing regional security efforts. “Our goal is to fortify maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” remarked Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson, Co. Xerxes Trinidad.
The Charles de Gaulle, the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier besides those of the U.S. Navy, led a group that included three destroyers and an oil replenishment ship during its inaugural visit to the Philippines, as noted by French officials.
France has been expanding its military collaborations with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations embroiled in disputes with China regarding these vital maritime routes. Although the French assert their preparedness measures are not directed at any specific nation, tensions are still evident.
China has often reacted negatively to the presence of foreign military forces in the South China Sea, asserting its sweeping claims over nearly the entire region, albeit without publishing precise coordinates to indicate its territory, except for a vague outline of ten dashed lines on maps.
China’s claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, leading to longstanding territorial disagreements. Indonesia has experienced violent clashes with Chinese fishing and coast guard vessels in the Natuna waters as well.
Recently, Australia lodged a protest after a Chinese J-16 fighter jet released flares close to an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft in the South China Sea, an incident confirmed by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. The Australian aircraft remained undamaged, with no injuries reported among the crew during the February 11 event. Meanwhile, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused the Australian aircraft of intentionally encroaching into disputed airspace over the Paracel Islands, contested by China and Vietnam.
In late 2023, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro formalized an agreement to enhance military cooperation and joint training exercises.
As part of their defense initiatives, France and the Philippines have also begun discussions on a defense agreement that would enable troop movements for training in each other’s territories. A draft of this proposal has already been transmitted to their Filipino counterparts.
The Philippines has previously established similar status-of-forces agreements with the U.S. and Australia, while a pending agreement with Japan is anticipated to receive ratification from Japanese lawmakers this year. Additionally, recent discussions between New Zealand and the Philippines regarding a comparable defense pact have recently concluded.