Warships of the French Navy (the "Marine nationale") are expected to begin patrols of the disputed South China Sea, perhaps by as early as this year, as the government of President François Hollande seeks to enforce its defense of the rules based international order.

France has also shown keen interest in leading naval patrols of the South China Sea by warships of the European Union (EU) to defend freedom of navigation. This freedom remains threatened by China's opposition to the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of the Philippines that denied China's claim to own most of the South China Sea.

Like Us on Facebook

France will urge EU nations to coordinate naval patrols to ensure a "regular and visible" presence in the disputed sea, which is the latest sign of an international counterattack against China's reliance on military force to reinforce its illegal territorial claims.

Expected to lead the French Navy patrols in the South China Sea are its frigates, the backbone of the French surface fleet. French frigates secure the aero-naval space and escort other forces such as the aeronaval and amphibious groups. The French Navy has 26 frigates equipped for anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine operations.

Some of the five La Fayette-class frigates might take the lead in the South China Sea patrols reinforced by anti-air frigates.

The French government also sees the protection of freedom of the seas as vital from an economic standpoint. Analysts said France is worried the loss of freedom of the seas in the South China Sea might lead to similar problems in the Arctic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea, said French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a global defense forum that included top Chinese officials.

"If we want to contain the risk of conflict, we must defend this right, and defend it ourselves," said Le Drian.

The French Navy has been deployed three times in the South China Sea, he revealed.

"This is a message that France will continue to be present at international forums," said Le Drian. "It's also a message that France will continue to act upon, by sailing its ships and flying its planes wherever international law will allow, and wherever operational needs request that we do so."

French ambassador to the Philippines, Thierry Mathou, said France could play a brokering role to ease tensions between Manila and Beijing. 

TagsFrench Navy, South China Sea, Francois Hollande, china, Philippines, European Union