France is rumored to be trying to sell a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship to China, while two French warships are on a seven-day visit to Shanghai, Watch China Times reported, adding that the French Navy is likely to offer the Mistrals built for Russia for sale instead of constructing new ones.

In an unlikely coincidence, the task force visiting China consists of two warships, one of which is a Mistral-class protection and command (BPC) ship, the Dixmude. This is the first time a Mistral entered a Chinese port.

Under a $1.3-billion deal Russia and France signed in 2011, Paris was supposed to deliver the Vladivostok in November 2014 and the Sevastopol in early 2015. None of the ships arrived to Russia, since the deliveries were put on hold over Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian civil war. Kremlin has repeatedly denied these groundless claims and pushed for peace in the war-torn nation.

© AFP 2020 / GEORGES GOBET The Sevastopol mistral warship is on its way for its first sea trials, on March 16, 2015 off Saint-Nazaire

Meanwhile, the fate of the two Mistrals built and adapted to meet the specifications provided by the Russian Navy remains in limbo. Last month, French President Francois Hollande said Paris would return the payment for the warships if the contract is terminated.

Several other options are reportedly under consideration – to sink the two Mistrals, to hand them over to the French Navy or to sell them to a third party. The Watch China Times named Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt and India as potential buyers.

China is developing its own as of yet unnamed amphibious assault ship but could buy a Mistral to use as a model, the media outlet noted.

Selling Mistrals commissioned by Russia may prove harder than it seems. Last week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin warned that France could not sell the helicopter carriers without Russia's permission. He added that Paris was fully aware of that.

The other French ship, accompanying the Dixmude on the visit to China, is the Aconit, a La Fayette-class frigate. The French task force arrived at the Wusong naval port on May 9 and will leave on May 15.