(Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy) MANILA - The French Navy has expressed willingness to work with its Philippine counterparts at sea. "We are ready to work with your forces at sea. We need to protect, we need to defend the freedom of navigation including (on) the West Philippine Sea," said Rear Adm. Jean-Mathieu Rey, Joint Commander of the French Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific (ALPACI), during his courtesy call on Philippine Navy (PN) chief, Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado, on Monday. PN spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza, in a statement, said Rey's visit is in line with the scheduled March 8 to 11 port call of French surveillance frigate Vendemiaire (F-734) to the country. "Rear Admiral Rey was accorded with arrival honors as he paid a courtesy call on the Flag-Officer-In-Command, PN, Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado. The French Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. (Her Excellency) Michele Boccoz was present during the event together with the Non-Resident Defense Att
The French Navy has expressed its keen interest to work with the Philippine Navy in enforcing and defending freedom of navigation even in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a move that could potentially anger China. Rear Admiral Jean-Mathieu Rey, commander of both the Joint Forces in Asia-Pacific (ALPACI) and the…