Opinion | With its support for US strategy, France is playing with fire in the South China Sea

France appears generally supportive of US political and military strategy in the region, which invites China’s economic, political and possibly military wrath

Despite French denials, the actions of its military may well be interpreted as hostile by Beijing, and French businesses invested in China should be worried

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The French frigate Surcouf is due to pass through the South China Sea on a three-month mission. Photo: Twitter

Published: 9:45am, 12 Mar 2021Updated: 11:44am, 13 Mar 2021

As two French warships approach the South China Sea, France needs to pause and re-evaluate the signals it is sending China. The French Armed Forces Ministry said the passage was in support of “freedom of navigation”, but this term has become politically loaded because the vast majority of US freedom of navigation operations in the region are aimed at China. There is a lot that can be read into France’s actions.

It already appears to China that France is generally supportive of US political and military strategy in the region. This invites China’s economic, political and possibly military wrath. France is playing with fire.

In the Trump era, the US’ goal in the region was to maintain its hegemony. So far, the Biden administration has not disavowed that goal, and seems to still be pursuing it. China and Southeast Asia view French policy in Asia in the context of its alliance with the US and its past as a colonial master.

It won’t take much to convince China that France is supporting US efforts to contain it. This is the signal France is sending by participating in joint exercises with India, Australia, Japan and the US.

Although French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed for European “strategic autonomy” from the US, actions speak louder than words.

To China, France’s first significant strategic signal came in 2019, when it sent the warship Vendemiaire through the Taiwan Strait. Although this was not the first French passage through the sensitive waters, it came at a time of frequent US warship passages and growing Chinese anger. China responded by disinviting France from the naval parade in honour of the 70th anniversary of China’s navy.

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