South China Sea: France-Philippines proposed military drills seen as support for Manila’s maritime position

Officials from France and the Philippines are set to meet in Paris this month to negotiate a visiting forces agreement. French troops are also expected to continue taking part in the annual joint exercises involving their US and Philippine counterparts after taking part for the first time last month.

The negotiations showed that France wanted to forge closer cooperation with its regional allies, geopolitical analyst Dindo Manhit said. “It is a testament to France’s commitment to upholding and promoting the rules-based order in the region.”

Among the incidents, Chinese coastguard vessels had harassed Philippine vessels on resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship serving as the Philippine navy’s outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal. Several Philippine vessels were also hit by water cannons from Chinese ships.

With the support from Paris, Manila could bolster its position in the maritime dispute on the international stage, defence analyst V.K. Parada said.

“It is effectively borrowing the strength of extra-regional partners like France to buttress its territorial claims. Their support increases the reputational costs of Chinese aggression on the world stage.”

French Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said earlier this month that the proposed agreement was focused on “[creating] interoperability or a strategic closeness between both armed forces, see how both navies work together, how air forces work together.”

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The participation of French troops in the Balikatan exercises also showed that France wanted to be seen as a credible force in the region, Parada said.

“France’s inclusion in this year’s [Balikatan] iteration