French aircraft carrier stages combat drills with Filipinos in disputed sea

French aircraft carrier The Charles de Gaulle docks at Subic Bay, a former U.S. Naval base northwest of Manila, Philippines, yesterday

France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying warships were in the Philippines yesterday after holding combat drills with Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea in a show of firepower that would likely antagonize China.

The Charles de Gaulle docked on Friday at Subic Bay, a former U.S. Naval base northwest of Manila, for a break after more than two months of deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

The French carrier engaged with security allies for contingency readiness and to promote regional security, including with Filipino forces, navy ships and fighter jets. They held anti-submarine warfare drills and aerial combat training on Friday in the South China Sea, Philippine and French officials said.

Last year, the French navy deployed a frigate for the first time to participate in a joint sail with United States and Philippine counterpart forces in and near the disputed waters. It was part of the largest annual combat exercises in years by American and Filipino allied forces.

The drills, known as Balikatan (Tagalog for “shoulder-to-shoulder”), involved more than 16,000 military personnel.

China strongly criticized the exercises then, saying the Philippines was “ganging up” with countries from outside Asia in an obvious reference to the U.S. and its security partners, and warned the drills could instigate confrontation and undermine regional stability. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, MDT/AP