France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying warships were in the Philippines on Sunday after holding combat drills with Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea in a show of firepower that would likely antagonize China.

France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and accompanying warships were in the Philippines yesterday after holding combat drills with Philippine forces in the disputed South China Sea in a show of firepower that would likely antagonize China.

The visit of France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, follows joint combat drills with Filipino forces, a move likely to antagonise China.

After more than three years, the Philippines is finally out of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list or list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. In a statement late Friday, the FATF said the Philippines made significant progress improving its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime.