(Note that I tried to find an example of naval battle between Japan and France. Looks like Vichy France and Japan teamed up to defend Madagascar from the Brits, and Richelieu went to French Indochina at the end of the war to re-establish French control. I have to think that there was some kind of naval engagement in 1940 when Japan occupied French Indochina, but reading more about it appears that Vichy France didn't put up much resistance!)