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

Rising tensions in the South China Sea have made freedom of navigation exercises "even more important", France's ambassador to the Philippines said on Sunday, as the nuclear-powered Charles De Gaulle made its first port visit to the country.

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle docked in the Philippines' Subic port after conducting joint combat exercises with the country's military. The nuclear-powered carrier has been deployed to the region as part of France's plan to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific.