The arrival of French warships in Shanghai has sparked feverish speculation that China will purchase two amphibious assault ships that were originally intended for Russia, reports The Telegraph.
Paris suspended the deal last year over Moscow's actions in Ukraine, leaving it stuck with 1.2 billion euros (£870 million) of unsold naval hardware.
In the meantime, the Dixmude, a Mistral-class vessel, arrived with the Aconit, a La Fayette-class missile frigate, in the Chinese port city on May 9th for a week-long visit. It is the first time that French warships have docked in China since 2013, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency, and the first ever by a Mistral-class vessel.
China's military has a limited amphibious assault capability at present, and analysts suggest the purchase of the two new Mistral ships would be a "significant upgrade".
They were due to be named the Vladivostok and the Sevastopol after being handed to the Russian Navy.
Now China's neighbours are watching for its next move in the western Pacific, where China is rapidly developing reefs and shoals that have been historically claimed by a number of other nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines.
Tokyo will also be concerned, given Beijing's belligerent claims to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku archipelago. The uninhabited islands, the most westerly part of Okinawa Prefecture, are effectively undefended and could be seized swiftly by an invading force.
Jun Okumura, a visiting scholar at the Meiji Institute for Global Affairs, said: "Any new equipment that the Chinese can get their hands on is welcome, from their point of view.
"In the short term, I suspect this is a significant upgrade on what they already have and as the South China Sea appears at present to be their main area of operations, these could serve to change the status quo".
Mr Okumura added, however, that France's allies - notably the US - are likely to express deep concern about any sale of advanced military hardware or technology to China.
Each 16,500-ton Mistral-class warship can carry 16 Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters or NH90 transport helicopters, four landing barges and up to 70 vehicles, including heavy tanks. They are also able to carry up to 450 soldiers.
Three of the 650-foot ships - the Mistral, Tonnerre and Dixmude - are already in operation with the French Navy.