In a tweet earlier this week, France’s Defense Minister Florence Parly announced that the European power has deployed the nuclear attack submarine Émeraude along with naval support ship Seine to the maritime area to 'affirm that international law is the only rule that is valid, whatever the sea where we sail', reports Asia Times.

“This extraordinary patrol just completed its passage in the South China Sea,” declared the French defense chief following its unprecedented military maneuvers in Asian waters this week.

“This is striking proof of the capacity of our French Navy to deploy far away and for a long time, together with our Australian, American and Japanese strategic partners,” she continued, emphasizing that France’s actions are part of a broader international effort to uphold international law in global sea lines of communications.

France made the move just days after new US President Joe Biden emphasized the necessity for a joint response along with like-minded allies in Europe and Asia.