French aircraft carrier group to visit PH for joint military exercises

As part of the Pacific Steller exercise involving its allies including the US, Japan, and the Philippines, France has announced that its aircraft carrier group is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines next month.

Marie Fontanel, the Ambassador of France to the Philippines, made this announcement during a panel discussion at the Stratbase ADR Institute. She stated, “This final activity will precede the French Aircraft Carriers group’s visit to the Philippines in a month’s time for a historic port call.”

Fontanel emphasized that this visit “underscores France’s commitment to strengthening its involvement alongside the Philippines and will facilitate numerous joint activities with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”

The exercise, which is a collaborative effort with the United States and Japan, aims to enhance the collective ability to prevent various crises and address hybrid threats. According to Fontanel, it will also promote freedom of navigation and uphold the international rules-based order throughout the Indo-Pacific region, taking place in the East Philippine Sea.

Japan on WPS, US ties

In light of ongoing tensions, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya expressed serious concern over the increasing assertiveness of the Chinese Coast Guard in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea. “Japan views with serious concern the continued and intensified attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the South China Sea,” he said. “Over the past year, we have seen troubling developments, especially with the alarming frequency of harassment by China Coast Guard vessels against Philippine ships.”

Kazuya added that the Philippines can count on continued and strengthened support from Japan regarding defense and maritime security cooperation. He was one of the speakers at the Stratbase ADR Institute panel discussion, titled “Exploring Maritime Cooperation: The Role of International Partnerships on Maritime Security.”

Additionally, during the discussion, Kazuya was asked about the recent appointment of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his potential impact on trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, the United States, and Japan.

“With Secretary Rubio now in his position, I hope that he will be working very closely with both the Philippines and Japan,” Kazuya remarked, noting Rubio's significant activity as a senator on the foreign affairs committee. He expressed hope that the trilateral cooperation agreement, established during the administration of former US President Joe Biden, would be maintained or even strengthened. — BM, GMA Integrated News