France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying warships were in the Philippines on Sunday after holding combat drills with Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea in a show of firepower that would likely antagonize China.

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the flagship of the French Navy, arrived in the Philippines on February 21, accompanied by its Carrier Strike Group, which includes three destroyers and an oil supply ship.

The countries' military exercises last week are likely to displease China, which claims ownership over most of the South China Sea. View on euronews

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and other fleet stationed in the Philippines staged combat drills with Philippine forces

France hopes to see broader military cooperation with the Philippines following the historic visit of its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles d

France's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying warships were in the Philippines on Sunday after holding combat drills with Philippine forces in some disputed waters in the South China Sea. The show of firepower however, only made themselves look like marionettes controlled by Washington via Manila from behind the curtain.

France already submitted the first draft of its military interoperability agreement with PH and is currently awaiting the latter’s response.

In a demonstration of their growing commitment to regional security, the Philippines and France conducted joint naval and air operations in the West Philippine Sea on Friday to further strengthen defense cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Manila is currently in talks to allow military forces from New Zealand, Canada and France to train in the Philippines, with defense officials expecting to finalize at least two of these Visiting Forces Agreements (VFAs) before the year ends.

France aims to strengthen military cooperation with the Philippines following the historic visit of its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de