The China factor in France’s growing engagement in the “peaceful sea”

A step-up by Paris in the Indo-Pacific is evidence that it aims for a pragmatic third path in the region.

Press article

Éric Frécon co-published with Denghua Zhang an article in The Interpreter (Lowy Institute), on July 11th, 2022.

In recent years, France has stepped up its Pacific engagement. In October 2020, it appointed Christophe Penot as its first ambassador for the Indo-Pacific. It released an updated version of the Indo-Pacific Strategy in February 2022, pledging to strengthen relations with Pacific islands. In the same month, a ministerial forum for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was hosted by France during its presidency of the European Union Council.

Read the article.