France sends warships to South China Sea ahead of exercise with US and Japan
- The French navy said the Tonnere, an amphibious assault ship, and the frigate Surcouf would pass through the disputed waters twice
- Commander says the ships will work to strengthen France’s partnership with the four Quad nations
France is stepping up its military presence in the South China Sea by planning two voyages through the disputed waters.
The French navy said an amphibious assault ship the Tonnere and the frigate Surcouf had left their home port Toulon on Thursday and would travel to the Pacific on a three-month mission. The website Naval News reported that the ships would cross the South China Sea twice and take part in a combined exercise with the Japanese and US militaries in May.
Capt Arnaud Tranchant, commanding officer of the Tonnerre, told Naval News that the French navy would “work to strengthen” France’s partnership with the US, Japan, India and Australia – the so-called Quad.
When asked whether he was planning to transit the Taiwan Strait, he said he has “not yet traced our roads in this area”.
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Similar missions in 2015 and 2017 also saw French navy vessels sailing through the South China Sea, but analysts said the latest exercise is a sign of France stepping up engagement in the Indo Pacific region.
Experts said France will further reinforce its opposition to China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea by increasing the frequency of its operations in the region, aiming to maintain a “normal presence” to protect its interests there.
France established its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018, the first major European country to do so.
Fu Kuncheng, dean of South China Sea Institute at Xiamen University, said the patrols and exercise in the disputed waters were “alarming” and China should reflect on how to deal with the pressure.
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“It’s clear that the US hopes to combine with its Nato allies to show off their muscles in the South China Sea with exercises and so-called freedom of navigation [operations],” Fu said
“When these countries advocate freedom of navigation, China should send warships to accompany them. But if they enter the territorial waters claimed by China, we must protest in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” Fu said.
Hu Bo, director of Beijing-based think tank the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, said “The Indo-Pacific has become more and more important. France is trying to strengthen its military presence in the South China Sea, but it will be difficult as its military power has been shrinking in recent years.”
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Last Tuesday, the US Navy sent aircraft carriers the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Nimitz into the contested waters, accompanied by other warships.
“It’s obvious that France aims to demonstrate its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, especially under pressure from the United States, to cooperate with the military deployment and activities of the US,” military commentator Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said.
