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Singapore
As US defence secretary Jim Mattis engaged in a war of words with China over the South China Sea, French armed forces minister said French maritime task group along with British ships will visit Singapore and then sail to South China Sea.
Speaking at the annual defence forum in Singapore, French minister Florence Parly said: "By exercising our freedom of navigation, we also place ourselves in the position of a persistent objector to the creation of any claim to de facto sovereignty on the islands."
Although Parley was quick to add that France had no role to play in the South China Sea dispute, the minister said her country was seeking to "broaden" effort “on a regular basis with allies and friends”.
British Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson said that nations must play by the rules, adding that there are "consequences for not doing so". The minister told the summit that three warships would be sent to the region.
China has been conducting regular drills in the South China Sea. It claims Spratly islands in the disputed area rich in mineral resources which is contested by other countries namely - Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan.
Meanwhile, newswire Reuters reported that the US is planning to intensify patrols in order to challenge China. The newswire quoting two officials said the US inteded to carry out closer surveillance of Chinese facilities which included jamming signals and positioning sophisticated radars in the area.
US Defence Secretary had openly questioned China's policy at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The defence secretary said: "China's policy in the South China Sea stands in stark contrast to the openness that our strategy promotes, it calls into question China's broader goals."
"Despite China's claims to the contrary, the placement of weapon systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion," Mattis added.
China hit back saying it was within its sovereign right to deploy troops and weapons on islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
"It's allowed by international law. Anyone who makes carping comments on this is attempting to interfere in China's internal affairs. It's not worthy of refuting," said He Lei, vice president, Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.