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.

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

Rising tensions in the South China Sea have made freedom of navigation exercises "even more important", France's ambassador to the Philippines said Sunday, as the nuclear-powered Charles De Gaulle made its first port visit to the country.