Leaders scheduled to visit New Caledonia ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting have had to cancel their trip due to disagreements with the French government. The request for the delegation came from New Caledonia’s President Louis Mapou, who wanted fellow Pacific leaders to witness the aftermath of months of violence in the French territory. This violence was sparked by a law change in Paris that would have extended voting eligibility to residents living on the island for 10 years. However, this move was opposed by the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, who feared it could harm their chances of winning a future independence vote.
The protests and riots resulted in 10 deaths and extensive damage to businesses. Mark Brown, chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Cook Islands, stated that “the New Caledonia government has identified a number of issues regarding due process and protocol that must be addressed before a visit.” As a result, they decided to postpone their mission until after the Forum Leaders meeting.
There were claims that although initially approved by France’s government in Paris, they wanted to impose restrictions on the investigation. However, these claims were denied by French ambassador Veronique Roger-Lacan. Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, expressed his dissatisfaction with Roger-Lacan’s comments suggesting disunity among Pacific leaders regarding their fact-finding mission.
A recent report from Australia’s Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warned about potential consequences if New Caledonia achieves independence. It highlighted concerns about cementing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in the region through foreign interference activities targeting political and economic elites. The report also emphasized China’s efforts to make New Caledonia economically dependent.
ASPI further cautioned that without careful planning for independence, it could become an unpredictable event with severe consequences for both New Caledonia and surrounding nations. The report recommended countering Beijing’s influence through equal partnership discussions on regional security involving New Caledonia and frank discussions about CCP foreign interference activities by France’s government.
Ultimately, France and New Caledonia must find ways to manage risks while engaging with China effectively as they navigate potential security challenges associated with independence from France.