Rear Admiral Geoffroy d’Andigné, Joint Commander of the French Forces in the Asia-Pacific (ALPACI) and Commander of the French Polynesia maritime zones, told reporters during a press briefing aboard the French Destroyer Lorraine their presence in the South China Sea showed their support for liberty of navigation.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of that sea overlapping Indonesia’s EEZ as well.

“France is the only European Union country to conduct navigation in the Taiwan strait or South China Sea. But I shall make it very clear that our deployment will not be aggressive or provocative to anyone,”
“As stabilizing power, France does not in any way take part in territorial disputes and supports anytime dialogues,”
Rear Admiral Geoffroy d’Andigné – ALPACI
D’Andigné said he joined the voyage of Lorraine, the newest ship in the French Navy that was in Manila since June 23 for a port visit in the Southeast Asian country.
With 120 crew members, the vessel measures 141 meters in length, 19.8 meters in beam, and 4.9 meters in draft. It boasts a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 kilometers) at a speed of 15 knots (28 kph).
According to Captain Xavier Bagot, the commander of Lorainne, once commissioned, their main task will be to escort the French aircraft carrier and LHDs.

“The deployment is to test the ship’s various operational environments. That is why we are coming here to integrate with different navies,”
Captain Xavier Bagot – Lorraine’s Commanding Officer
Before her port call, Lorraine participated earlier this month in maritime drills with Japanese, Canadian and United States navies in the contested waters in South China Sea.
Michèle Boccoz, ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines, said Lorainne will be commissioned after the end of her voyage this year.
She said that France is supporting the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea not only politically but also in a bilateral and multilateral framework.
Boccoz said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting held in Bangkok last year and agreed to work together closely in defense and security areas.
“We are having an enhanced dialogue on that. And as you know we are always promoting a rules based international order, the rule of law and the UN convention of the sea, and specifically the 2016 arbitral ruling,”
H.E. Michèle Boccoz – Ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a complaint against China, saying there was no legal basis for Beijing to claim historical rights in the South China Sea. The Chinese government has refused to comply with the ruling.
Since her arrival, officials have met Philippine defense leaders discussing how they will improve their capabilities.
French and Filipino Navies conducted a friendly match with Philippine Basketball Association team Blackwater Bossing.


The French Indo-Pacific Strategy
For France, the Indo-Pacific space is a geographic reality. France is present in the region via the different French islands there, namely French Polynesia, Wallis & Futuna and New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean, Mayotte & La Réunion in the Indian Ocean, which give 93% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The region is home to nearly 2 million French people, as well as 8,000 soldiers stationed in the different military bases dispatched there.
Since 2018, France implements an Indo-Pacific strategy reflecting its interests in the region. Promoting a non-confrontational approach, it aims at fostering multilateralism with regional partners, as well as protecting the rule of law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Economic development and the protection of global commons such as climate resilience, biodiversity and health are among top priorities of this strategy.
Story, photos and video by Jeoffrey Maitem.