China and France to conduct joint naval drills
By Richard McGregor in Shanghai
The navies of China and France begin joint naval exercises on Tuesday off the northern Chinese coast in what Beijing says will be the "most comprehensive" military drills with a foreign power by a fleet under the command of the People's Liberation Army.
Although they are being conducted some distance from Taiwan, the exercises will take place just days before sensitive presidential elections on the island, over which China claims sovereignty.
France angered Taiwan recently by strongly condemning President Chen Shui-bian's plan to hold a referendum on missile defence alongside Saturday's election, prompting Taipei to suspend top-level ties with Paris.
France is also lobbying EU countries to drop the 15-year-old embargo on arms sales to China, imposed after the brutal 1989 suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing and other mainland cities.
The exercises involve staging search and rescue missions, refuelling exercises and tactical helicopter exchanges - a level above recent Chinese contacts with other visiting western navies, which have been restricted to routine drills and communication exchanges.
Ju Xinchun, the captain of the Harbin, a guided-missile destroyer, said at the base of the North China Fleet of the PLA Navy headquartered in Qingdao, that the Chinese had much to learn from the history and combat effectiveness of the French.
"The French navy is experienced, and we are eager to learn from them about their experience in coordination skills in joint exercises," said Mr Ju.
Zhang Chu, an editor at International Outlook, a Shanghai-based magazine, said France had maintained strong ties through much of the 1990s with China's defence establishment, despite the arms embargo.
"China wants to co-operate with traditional European powers, and France, as a stringent critic of the US, and a fervent advocate of lifting the arms embargo, was the country likely to take the initiative," Mr Zhang said.
Andrew Yang, a defence analyst based in Taipei, played down the significance of the exercise's proximity to the Taiwan elections, saying the drills were similar to those conducted recently by the PLA Navy with the fleets of India and Pakistan.
"It does not have direct implications for the situation in Taiwan," said Mr Yang, who said it was more a reflection of China's determination to forge ties with foreign fleets.
Christine Allain, second in command of a French light frigate participating in the exercises, was quoted in China's press as saying that she was impressed by the skills of the Chinese naval officers and their "good command of English".
The five-day tour is the 12th by French warships to China.
Since China is currently flirting with France, France probably won't resume any kind of talk with Taiwan anytime soon. China always makes sure to elbow Taiwan away from whoever they're talking with.
Sure, France ended up loosing, but how can you consider as a proof of military weaknest a serie of campaigns where France *alone* managed to conquer every important capitals in Europe except London? Had there not been a channel between France and the UK, Napoleon would have won 
