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

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle docked in the Philippines' Subic port after conducting joint combat exercises with the country's military. The nuclear-powered carrier has been deployed to the region as part of France's plan to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific.

France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and other warships docked in Subic Bay of the Philippines after drills in disputed South China Sea

France's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle made its first visit to the Philippines for joint naval exercises, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation amid rising South China Sea tensions.

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

The visit of France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, follows joint combat drills with Filipino forces, a move likely to antagonise China.