France considers the East Sea a strategic area.

This is a 5-month French naval combat training program, starting on February 28.

At a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City, the commander of the Mistral, Lieutenant Colonel Stanislas de Chargères, said: “The five-month voyage, in addition to its training mission, also has a practical combat role because we are going to areas of strategic interest to France. The presence of the group of ships in the East Sea demonstrates our desire to maintain freedom of navigation in all seas in accordance with international law.”

During this visit of the Mistral and Courbet, the French navy will have a joint training session with the Vietnamese navy.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phap-xem-bien-dong-la-vung-chien-luoc-185657517.htm