French and Filipino forces conduct joint naval exercises amid South China Sea tensions
France and the Philippines have vowed to deepen their alliance after carrying out joint combat exercises in the disputed South China Sea last week.
In a display of military strength that is likely to anger China, the two countries conducted anti-submarine warfare drills and aerial combat training.
Following the exercises, the French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, docked on Friday at Subic Bay, a former US naval base northwest of Manila.
On Sunday, Marie Fontanel, the French ambassador to the Philippines, spoke from the carrier's flight deck.
"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," she said.
France and the Philippines signed an agreement to enhance military cooperation and joint exercises in late 2023.
They are now also negotiating a deal that would allow their troops to conduct training in each other's territory. French officials have submitted a draft proposal to Manila to initiate discussions.
The Philippines has already signed similar agreements with the US and Australia.
Although France has been increasing its defence partnerships with Southeast Asian countries that are embroiled in maritime disputes with China, Paris has insisted that its activities are focused on emergency preparedness and do not target any specific nation.
China, however, has objected to the presence of foreign military forces in the South China Sea, particularly those of the US and its allies.
Beijing claims sovereignty over nearly the entire waterway, though it has not officially defined what it considers to be the boundaries.
These claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, leading to long-standing territorial disputes.
Tensions flared again two weeks ago when Australia accused a Chinese J-16 fighter jet of launching flares dangerously close to one of its P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea.
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