Unfazed by frigate tracking, France expresses Asian commitment
The French frigate FS Vendemiaire was tracked by a Chinese frigate in the South China Sea while transiting from Hong Kong to Brunei, following a brief bilateral exercise with the Chinese navy in March.
However, RAdm Denis Bertrand, Joint Commander, Armed Forces in French Polynesia; and Commander, French Polynesian and Pacific Maritime Zones, was unperturbed by this.
‘Our only goal is to safely sail across the areas stipulated as high seas by UNCLOS. We have sailed in these areas more than 12 times since 2014. What is important is that we implement the right to sail safely, and we have
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Frigates and submarines anchor Brazilian naval modernisation worth US$5.52 billion
Shipbuilding programmes established over the past decade are setting Brazil's course towards having one of the most modern navies in the region.
-
Subsea surveillance: why connecting military and civilian assets could be crucial
As costs rise and threats multiply, maritime awareness is shifting from platforms to networks, and civilian infrastructure plays a central role.
-
Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks
Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.
-
Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards
Multiple Latin American navies are modernising their fleets by prioritising domestically manufactured surface vessels and even submarines via international partnerships.