On July 20, 2025, local time, the French media, the French website Naval News, reported on details of the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group during its "Clemenceau 2025" mission in the Indo-Pacific. The French naval officers responded to encounters including Russian Su-35 fighter jets flying over the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and South China Sea, threats from Houthi rebels in Yemen, being surrounded by 40 Chinese naval warships, and encountering the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group.

Screen capture of the report from the French media, the French website Naval News

Excerpt from the specific content of the French media, the French website Naval News: "The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is ready for combat!"

According to the French side, including senior French naval officers, introduced the details of the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group during the "Clemenceau-25" mission. The French side said that during the "Clemenceau-25" mission, the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle 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 battle group has a firm commitment to diplomacy, it is not just a ceremonial deployment, but rather a mission: to restate France's presence in areas where it has national interests.

The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group has been on edge all along

According to the French naval officers, the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group has always been under surveillance by French competitors. Whether it was near Syria, with Russian Aerospace Forces' Su-35 fighters flying over, or in Southeast Asia, the South China Sea, being welcomed by Chinese naval vessels. "The presence of the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group is both annoying and has aroused great interest from our competitors. As soon as we entered the Luzon Strait, we were followed, especially one Chinese Navy 054A frigate," said a senior French officer. "In an area equivalent to three-quarters of the Mediterranean, there are 30 to 40 large Chinese naval warships, which is very 'numerous.' 'We have been prepared for anything!' said a French admiral when asked about possible confrontations.

The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group arrived at the South China Sea and found out what the French Navy's strength looks like today

The French officer corps also revealed: "The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group encountered a Chinese Navy Shandong aircraft carrier in the South China Sea." According to the French Navy officers, "there was no confrontation between China and France because the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group represents a formidable force." "The Chinese Navy has the capability to prevent the French Navy from passing through the strait," said a senior French naval officer. "The Chinese Navy may respond differently to Americans. Not taking action against the French Navy may indicate that China's stance toward France is different from its stance toward the United States."

The French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group was hoping to rely on the US military to act as a tiger

However, does the French saying "being ready" mean raising one-third of the flag (white)? They said they are ready for everything, definitely including this! These French naval officers know how to speak. The reason no conflict occurred is first because "we France are strong," and second because "China makes us invisible." And the J-15T of the Chinese Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier wants to meet the real Rafale carrier aircraft. France's power feels good even in West Africa. Like the British warships in the Yangtze River, 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!

The French Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group finally gave up the provocative action of transiting the Taiwan Strait

At the same time, this French naval admiral also revealed: "No French naval ship passed through the Taiwan Strait. In fact, a French naval frigate and a supply oiler docked in Okinawa and stayed away. At that time, we thought crossing the Taiwan Strait was not useful. A French naval frigate had already done so a few months ago." Although the French side publicly disclosed information about transiting the South China Sea and Southeast Asian waters, they did not disclose the situation and images of encountering the Chinese Navy, especially the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group.

The French Navy finally saw the rise of the Eastern Dragon

Is it really meaningless to cross the Taiwan Strait? It is estimated that the Chinese Navy didn't even look at the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier battle group. The French Navy clearly saw the strength of the Chinese Navy, with as many as 40 warships of various models appearing in the South China Sea alone, more than the number of naval vessels in the entire French Navy. To put it bluntly, the French strength cannot match their ambitions. The key is why do they want to travel thousands of nautical miles to come to the South China Sea? What is the purpose?

The Chinese Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier's J-15T carrier-based aircraft may have encountered the French Navy's Rafale carrier-based aircraft

For decades, the so-called freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been an issue, so why do they keep coming to test it repeatedly? European navies are indeed more confident than Americans, for example, Britain, how did it report its own aircraft carrier going to the Asia-Pacific: "Our carrier capabilities have their defects and failures, but the Prince of Wales is still currently one of the largest carriers in the world, equipped with fifth-generation jet carrier-based aircraft." The French Navy has not been hit for half a century, so they don't know their own weight anymore.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529355877069980169/

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