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New Caledonia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on New Caledonia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Nouméa

Head of State

President of France Emmanuel Macron

Head of Government

President Louis Mapou

Japan

Japan talks with Pacific islands focus on climate, security issues take back seat

Among the areas of concern highlighted by Pacific island nations was Japan’s release of treated radioactive water.

20 Jul 2024 - 1:45PMvideocam

Pacific nations

New Caledonia independence activist to be held in France

22 Jun 2024 - 10:35PM

Pacific nations

Macron ‘suspends’ New Caledonia reform that sparked deadly riots after snap polls

12 Jun 2024 - 8:40PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Police in riot-hit New Caledonia shoot man dead after Macron visit

The latest fatality was a blow to hopes for calm after Macron’s visit, which some officials had seen as heralding an end to more than a week of violence that has now killed seven people.

24 May 2024 - 7:39PMvideocam

Burnt vehicles can be seen at a roadblock in the capital of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, which has been rocked by riots after France’s National Assembly approved contentious voting reforms to the territory that angered independence supporters. Photo: AFP/dpa

France

New Caledonia riots: France’s Macron delays voting reform, TikTok ban stays

The president held talks with local leaders on the French-ruled Pacific island amid deadly protests sparked by the controversial measure.

24 May 2024 - 2:34AMvideocam

Pacific nations

New Caledonia riots spotlight French ‘failures’ of democracy in South Pacific

‘Foreign interference’ narrative, a bid to deflect France’s responsibility for the crisis and insult to the Kanak people’s long struggle for independence, analysts note.

22 May 2024 - 8:00AMvideocam

Pacific nations

Australia, New Zealand scramble to evacuate tourists from riot-hit New Caledonia

Six people have been killed and the unrest has left a trail of burnt businesses and cars and looted shops, with road barricades restricting access to medicine and food.

22 May 2024 - 1:04AMvideocam

A Kanak flag is seen waving next to a burnt-out vehicle at a roadblock in New Caledonia. Three of the six people killed in the unrest were indigenous Kanaks shot by armed civilians. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

French response in New Caledonia risks helping China: analysts

French President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitions to deepen French influence in the Pacific, where China is expanding its security ties, could be put at risk by the heavy-handed response to civil unrest in New Caledonia

17 May 2024 - 9:52PMvideocam

France

New Caledonia riots: France declares state of emergency, bans TikTok

Three indigenous Kanak and a police official have been killed in the violence that broke out after an electoral reform bill was adopted by lawmakers in Paris.

16 May 2024 - 4:56AM

Pacific nations

Trouble in paradise: riots rock French Pacific territory of New Caledonia

The streets of New Caledonia’s main city Noumea bore the scars of clashes on Tuesday with traffic blocked by burnt-out cars and smoking piles of tyres.

14 May 2024 - 3:49PM

Smoke rises in the distance on Tuesday amid unrest in Noumea, New Caledonia, over a constitutional bill aimed at enlarging the electorate in the French overseas territory. Photo: AFP

South China Sea

‘Likely to agitate China’: European powers step up their Indo-Pacific presence

Concerns about China, trade routes and upholding international law have seen Germany and Italy join France in making their regional presence felt, but analysts say increased European involvement could do more harm than good.

7 Jan 2024 - 12:00PM

The German frigate Bayern (Bavaria). Photo: Mohssen Assanimoghaddam/dpa

Luxury yachts

Hong Kong’s SHK Scallywag forced to retire from Sydney-Hobart Race

Hong Kong-owned supermaxi was third having taken a penalty turn for tacking too close to race favourite Andoo Comanche. Scallywag crew ‘very disappointed’ after breaking bowsprit.

26 Dec 2023 - 7:16PM

The Philippines

Philippines, France agree to ramp up defence ties

The boost to bilateral defence cooperation includes seeking authority from leaders of both countries to negotiate a status of visiting forces agreement.

2 Dec 2023 - 7:15PM

France

Paris mayor to quit Musk’s ‘global sewer’ X as city gears up for 2024 Olympics

Anne Hidalgo, who unsuccessfully stood for the presidency in 2022, joined the platform in 2009 when it was known as Twitter, but accused X of promoting ‘misinformation’, ‘antisemitism and racism’.

28 Nov 2023 - 9:20AMvideocam

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she was quitting Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, which she described as a “global sewer” and a tool to disrupt democracy. Photo: Reuters

United States

My Take | What independence really means for two tiny Pacific island states

Self-governing Cook Islands and Niue have exchanged their freedom in political association with New Zealand for dominated status under the United States.

29 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

President Joe Biden speaks during the US-Pacific Island Country Summit at the State Department in Washington, September 29, 2022. Photo: AP Photo

My Take

My Take | Why Beijing’s security pact with Solomons has been a huge blunder

Islands provide perfect example of ‘China threat’ for US and its allies as they then turn central and south Pacific into their sphere of influence.

27 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

US-China relations

My Take | Claims by US over central Pacific now rival those of Beijing in South China Sea

Washington’s new pacts with three island states will establish a second island chain of attack as a complete sphere of influence in breach of international law and its own interpretation of freedom of navigation.

25 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

Pacific nations

Tiny Cook Islands, Niue to get US embassies amid Biden’s powered-up Pacific push

Fewer than 2,000 people call isolated Niue home, while the Cook Islands have a permanent population well under 20,000. Biden has put a premium on improving Pacific ties amid rising US concern about China’s influence.

25 Sep 2023 - 6:53PMvideocam

Joe Biden speaks during last year’s US-Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington, where the White House unveiled its Pacific strategy. Photo: AP

Pacific nations

US ‘back in force’ in Pacific as Biden engages with regional leaders at summit

The White House is hosting Pacific island leaders on Monday as Biden promises to take US engagement in region to ‘next level’ but there are notable absences from the meeting.

25 Sep 2023 - 3:26AMvideocam

Sri Lanka

France seeks Sri Lanka ties in aim to be ‘alternative’ Indo-Pacific power

France is looking to bolster its ties with Sri Lanka and believes it can be ‘a balancing power’ in the Indo-Pacific, analysts say.

27 Aug 2023 - 11:30AM

Pacific nations

Pacific Islands leaders meet amid political crisis

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia’s ruling FLNKS party are meeting to consider declaring a ‘region of peace and neutrality’, as the nations are at the centre of a geopolitical contest.

22 Aug 2023 - 7:25PMvideocam

At the White House in Washington, in September last year, President Joe Biden poses with leaders from the US- Pacific Island Country Summit. Photo: Reuters

Australia

Opinion | Australia should embrace ‘Pacific family’ and not just focus on China

Australia aims to draw closer to its “Pacific family” but is taking a reactive approach towards China’s moves in the region rather than embracing its neighbours with genuine acts.

11 Aug 2023 - 7:00PM

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) greets Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Suva on July 13, 2022. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Opinion | Why China should care about French interests in Africa and the Pacific

France could help China improve its EU ties under the banner of strategic autonomy – but Beijing would need to steer clear of red lines in francophone Africa and the South Pacific.

8 Aug 2023 - 1:25AMvideocam

My Take

My Take | Emmanuel Macron and the new imperialism in the South Pacific

Besides countering China, France’s immediate interest is in exploiting New Caledonia’s nickel deposits as the EU fights Indonesia’s export ban.

28 Jul 2023 - 9:00PM

Pacific nations

Western officials make a beeline for Indo-Pacific to counter China’s influence

It’s been a busy week for Indo-Pacific Islands as Western officials head to the region in an effort to assert their geopolitical influence against China.

28 Jul 2023 - 5:56AMvideocam

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking in Noumea, New Caledonia, on Wednesday, was only the most prominent Western official touring Pacific island nations this week. (Photo: AFP

France

Macron to push French ‘alternative’ on Pacific trip amid US-China tensions

Macron relaunched his country’s Indo-Pacific approach last year after a row over a cancelled submarine contract with Australia, casting France as the balancing power in a region dominated by China-US tussle.

18 Jul 2023 - 1:56AMvideocam

President Macron will use his visit to outline his Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at “recommitting” France to the region. Photo: AFP

South China Sea

Opinion | France’s Indo-Pacific intervention is going full steam ahead

Extended military deployments in Asia and the pursuit of arms deals with several regional countries are demonstrating France’s desire to play a greater role in the Indo-Pacific.

8 Jul 2023 - 4:36AM

China trade

No longer ‘hole of Asia-Pacific doughnut’, South Pacific eyes China trade deal

Talks are being explored as the South Pacific is no longer regarded as the ‘hole of the Asia-Pacific doughnut’, and China is looking to cement an economic foothold in the region.

16 Mar 2023 - 7:57AMvideocam

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