Surrounded by 40 Chinese naval vessels, encountering the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group, a French navy officer said: "There has been no conflict with the Chinese navy in the South China Sea, but we are fully prepared." On July 20, 2025 local time, French media reported that a French navy officer responded to details of the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group during its "Clemenceau 2025" operation in the Indo-Pacific. The officer also responded to encounters with Russian Su-35s, Houthi rebels in Yemen, 40 Chinese warships and the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and South China Sea.
According to the French side, including a French naval admiral, the French naval officers introduced the details of the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group conducting the "Clemenceau-25" mission. The French side stated that during the "Clemenceau-25" mission, the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group was deployed to the Pacific, which is the first time since 1960 for the French navy. Although the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group has a firm commitment to diplomacy, it is not just a ceremonial deployment, but also carries a mission: to reassert France's presence in areas where it has national interests.
According to the French naval officers' statements, the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group has always been under surveillance by French competitors. Whether it's being flown over by Russian aerospace forces' Su-35 fighters near Syria, or welcomed by Chinese navy ships in Southeast Asia, the South China Sea. "The presence of the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group is both annoying and has attracted great interest from our competitors. As soon as we entered the Luzon Strait, we were followed, especially by a Chinese navy 054A frigate," a senior French officer explained. "In an area equivalent to three-quarters of the Mediterranean, there are 30 to 40 large Chinese navy warships, which is very 'numerous.' 'We are fully prepared for any event!' A French naval admiral said when asked about the possibility of confrontation.
The French officer corps also revealed: "The French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group encountered an aircraft carrier of the Chinese navy in the South China Sea."
According to the French navy officers' statements, "there has been no confrontation between China and France, because the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group represents formidable power." "The Chinese navy has the capability to prevent the French navy from passing through the strait," said a senior French navy officer. "The Chinese navy did not issue any warning communications to the French navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group. The Chinese navy's response to Americans may be different. Not taking action against the French navy may indicate that China's stance toward France is different from its stance toward the United States."
However, what does it mean for the French to say they are ready? Is it raising one-third of the flag (white)? They said they are fully prepared, which certainly includes this! These French navy officers know how to speak. The reason why there was no conflict is first because "we are strong in France," and second because "China makes us unnoticeable." The J-15T of the Chinese navy's Shandong aircraft carrier still wants to meet the real Rafale carrier-based aircraft. French power feels good even in West Africa. Just like the British warships in the Yangtze River back then, their initial swagger turned into crying and calling for help when the PLA shelled the warships, truly realizing that the Eastern Dragon is not easy to mess with!
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838221099798603/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.