France has sent the Prairial (F731), a Floréal-class frigate, through the Taiwan Strait, according to a report published on October 29, 2024. The French vessel’s transit follows recent voyages by both the United States and Canadian navies, reflecting a rising international concern regarding the stability of this strategic region. This French naval activity arrives just after China concluded a series of military drills near Taiwan, further increasing cross-strait tensions.
On October 20, two North American vessels—the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver—completed their passage through the Taiwan Strait. As the third Western nation to assert presence in the region within a short timeframe, France underscores the significance it places on Indo-Pacific security, a priority it has steadily reinforced over the past few years.
The Taiwan Strait has emerged as one of the Indo-Pacific’s most sensitive geopolitical hotspots, largely due to escalating Chinese military activity and ongoing sovereignty disputes surrounding Taiwan. Spanning approximately 180 kilometers, the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway crucial to both regional and global trade routes. Despite the sensitivity surrounding Taiwan’s autonomous governance, Beijing has claimed Taiwan as part of its territory and has periodically demonstrated military power as a statement of its stance. This includes conducting military drills that Taiwan and its allies regard as threatening.
Such military maneuvers are perceived by the international community as a bid to assert dominance in the region. Western nations, particularly those with significant Indo-Pacific interests, have responded by reinforcing their naval presence, underscoring their support for international navigation rights through the Taiwan Strait. France’s recent actions, though discreet, form part of a broader strategy to uphold international law in the face of what it and other allies perceive as Chinese overreach.
The French frigate Prairial entered the Taiwan Strait from the south, moving northward as part of its current deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. Its passage follows a goodwill stopover in Cebu, Philippines, where it docked between October 22 and 25, highlighting France’s dedication to regional partnerships. This transit is a continuation of the French Navy’s frequent operations in the area, which have increasingly aligned with France’s strategic positioning as an Indo-Pacific power.
Earlier this year, between April and May, France deployed two of its frigates, the Vendémiaire (F734) and Bretagne (D655), to the Philippines for port visits, signifying an ongoing engagement within the first island chain—a key area in the western Pacific that includes Taiwan. France’s naval activities serve as a counterbalance to China’s assertive policies, which often disregard international rulings. French authorities have expressed that these efforts are not confrontational but assert France’s responsibility to uphold lawful maritime conduct in the region.
France is the only European Union member with territories in the Indo-Pacific, such as Réunion and New Caledonia, which bestows upon it both a geopolitical presence and obligation in the region. In line with its defense strategy, France perceives itself as an Indo-Pacific power with a duty to maintain the region’s stability. As a result, France has heightened its naval activities in strategically significant areas like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, where it operates in conjunction with allied powers to secure international trade routes.
French officials have adopted a measured stance on Taiwan and China, focusing on freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order without overt political statements. This differs from the approach of the United States, whose freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) are often more direct in challenging Chinese maritime claims. However, France’s steady, assertive presence is seen as a stabilizing influence, reiterating the importance of lawful maritime activities.
In response to foreign naval activities near its claimed territories, China frequently deploys vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to monitor and shadow foreign warships. However, the PLAN’s responses are typically discreet unless the transits appear to be direct provocations. In France’s case, the Chinese military has not issued any official statements, reflecting its awareness of France’s non-confrontational approach.
Nevertheless, China’s increased military exercises in the region signal its growing concern over foreign military presence and international alliances. The PLAN’s show of force serves as a reminder of China’s stronghold over the strait, and experts warn that Beijing’s silence should not be mistaken for indifference. As China watches international movements closely, Western nations’ freedom of navigation operations collectively signal their intent to deter China’s expansionist tendencies.
France’s approach toward China and Taiwan is anchored in a broader commitment to safeguard peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific. To achieve this, France has leveraged strategic alliances and multilateral dialogues with nations in Southeast Asia, as well as with powers like the United States, Australia, and Japan. In particular, French lawmakers have openly criticized China’s actions, stating that Beijing’s aggression undermines regional stability and compromises global trade security.
In the South China Sea, France has performed freedom of navigation operations, dispatching warships like the destroyer Lorraine to reinforce international maritime rules. This area, much like the Taiwan Strait, is highly contested and subject to China’s territorial claims. French operations in these waters, therefore, aim to prevent any one nation from asserting unilateral control over critical maritime trade routes.
Although France is currently the only EU member with significant Indo-Pacific territories, its allies in the European Union are becoming increasingly attentive to the region’s challenges. The EU’s adoption of an Indo-Pacific strategy underscores a collective European recognition of the area’s importance, especially considering China’s rising influence. While most European countries lack the naval resources to actively patrol the Indo-Pacific, the EU has expressed support for maintaining international navigation rights and emphasized the need for a rules-based maritime order.
France’s operations serve as a representation of the EU’s support for stability and security in the region. The French Navy’s participation in joint exercises and goodwill visits fosters diplomatic ties and strengthens multilateral cooperation, which the EU regards as essential to counterbalance China’s assertiveness.
Taiwan has welcomed France’s engagement in the Taiwan Strait, viewing it as a symbol of international support. The government of Taiwan has historically appreciated efforts by foreign navies to underscore freedom of navigation, which serves as a deterrent to Chinese aggression. In response to China’s drills, Taiwan’s leadership has reiterated its commitment to self-defense and bolstered its military capabilities to withstand potential threats.
The United States, a key security partner of Taiwan, has encouraged similar actions by its allies. The recent transit by U.S. and Canadian warships alongside France’s passage underscores a unified Western stance on Taiwan’s security. Washington regards these combined efforts as essential in countering Chinese influence and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, U.S. officials have expressed a desire for even stronger partnerships with European allies, viewing France’s commitment as a promising sign.
The implications of France’s recent naval activities extend beyond regional tensions; they reflect the broader international response to China’s claims and military presence in contested waters. As more countries become involved, China may find it increasingly challenging to assert control without significant diplomatic repercussions. France’s steady but assertive presence acts as a form of diplomatic signaling, illustrating that it will not concede to unilateral dominance by any nation in international waters.
Moreover, France’s actions signal to other EU nations the importance of contributing to Indo-Pacific security efforts, even if they lack direct interests in the area. Experts suggest that France’s recent moves could encourage other EU countries to participate in joint naval exercises or provide logistical support to regional allies, thereby creating a unified European stance.
