Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part assessment that explores France's growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific and what it means for Paris's relations with major players in the region. Part one can be found here . France will still seek to retain some degree of bilateral cooperation with China, despite its rising concerns over Beijing's assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. As discussed in the first part of this series , French decision-makers have for decades considered that China needs to be included in global governance structures for the latter to be effective. Nonetheless, China's growing military assertiveness in recent years has raised concern in Paris, which is worried that Beijing's activity could threaten freedom of navigation in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as imperil the region's greater strategic stability.