French aircraft carrier holds exercises in West PH Sea; carrier strike group visit not aimed at other countries

Aboard the Charles De Gaulle, Philippines – The historic visit of France’s carrier strike group (CSG) to the Philippines is not intended to heighten tensions in the South China Sea nor directed at any other country.

The CSG, composed of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, two multi-mission destroyers, an air defense destroyer, and the auxiliary oil replenishment ship Jacques Chevallier, arrived in Manila and Subic over the weekend after conducting joint drills with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking to reporters aboard the Charles De Gaulle in Subic Bay on Sunday, February 23, Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, Commander of the French Carrier Strike Group, said their visit aims to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as capacity building.

Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard emphasized that the visit is not directed at any other country in the region.

“Absolutely not directed to anybody. We are building mutual knowledge, we are building experience of the area, and nothing is declared against anybody,” said Mallard.

He added that France supports the rule of law and believes countries should be able to move freely in “common spaces” such as the South China Sea.

“We are here because there is a free and open area to sail in, and we are here to use these rights of common space to make sure this space stays common,” said Mallard.

The CSG’s visit is part of France’s CLEMENCEAU 25 mission, which provides a unique opportunity to strengthen Franco-Philippine relations.

“It was a great opportunity to experience what the aircraft carrier group has to offer, the expertise behind it, the technology on board, and the diversity of the full-fledged equipment,” said French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel.

The French envoy added that the visit also demonstrates Paris’ commitment to the Indo-Pacific, as France was the first country to release an Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018.

“We are standing with the countries, the Philippines being one, that share the values of international law, especially the international law of the sea,” said Fontanel.