Emmanuel Macron warns about the 'Chinese sea base' in the new Caledonia, as Antony Blinken said in T
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Two of world's most powerful leaders have used their speeches in the Pacific to reaffirm their country's commitment to region as geopolitical rivalries intensify under continued pressure from China. Key points French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speak at the Pacific French President Emmanuel Macron and US Secretary State Antony Blinken speak in Pacific Mr. Macron spoke about the vexing issue of independence in French territory New Caledonia. Mr Macron speaks about the vexing issue of independence in New Caledonia on French territory Mr Blinken visited Tonga and warned of "problematic" activity by China In New Caledonia, President Emmanuel Macron said the "way forward" was for the province to remain part of France. The French president's speech came day US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tonga and told an audience in the capital, Nukuʿalofa, that "we are a nation of Pacific". Both leaders are touring the Pacific as geopolitical tensions in the region intensify. The United States and its allies grapple with an increasingly aggressive China as Beijing makes progress in countries like the Solomon Islands. Mr Macron landed in Noumea on Monday night for a three-day visit before flying to Vanuatu on Wednesday night. He will travel to Papua New Guinea this week and will become the first French president to tour a non-French Pacific island. But future of New Caledonia as a French territory has been in focus for the past three days as indigenous population continues to agitate for independence. The 2021 referendum failed with landslide, but did so only after the kanak population called on not to participate due to a 12-month mourning period following string of COVID-related deaths. Mr. Macron is in Noumea before his speech today. Speaking in Noumea on Wednesday, Macron spoke about the "way of apologizing" for the island nation's colonization, but did not mention any new moves for an independence vote. "I believe this path forgiveness and memory history is a matter necessity to build a path reconciliation." "We must come out of face-to-face tensions, which is only way to pave way for New Caledonia's future in republic and in Pacific." The French president also signaled an increase in French forces in the country and warned that independence could mean "a Chinese naval base tomorrow". "It's not called independence," Macron said. "France has a say in the Pacific and Oceania." ABC spoke with residents of the streets of Noumea prior to the speech and had mixed feelings about Mr Macron's visit. Resident Yaleta told ABC she believes France wants to hold New Caledonia for its "natural wealth". Noumea resident Yalenta said she is hopeful for independence. He believed that New Caledonia would one day be independent. "We are already living our independence in our tribes and I think one day New Caledonia will be independent." Another resident, who referred himself as Junior, said he believed Mr Macron wanted to find "a solution" the pro-independence and anti-independence opposition. "There should be no losers or winners," he said. Blinken in Tonga US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Prime Minister of Tonga, Siaosi Sovaleni. Mr. Blinken visited kingdom Tonga on Wednesday, inaugurating new embassy in capital as part of a lightning tour region. The lightning round comes as China continues to increase its diplomatic efforts in the Pacific, as China's influence in the region grows. "As China's engagement in the [Indo-Pacific] region has increased, there has been, from our point of view, increasingly problematic behavior," Blinken said. Mr. Blinken became first US secretary of state make an official visit to Tonga as the superpower continues show greater interest in region. The US recently reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, and US President Joe Biden hosted a first-ever summit with Pacific island leaders in Washington last September. A second summit is planned for this year. His speech touched upon climate change, development issues and the impact of illegal fishing, which is a persistent problem in Pacific countries like Tonga, which often rely on fishing as a major export source. Mr. Blinken opens the US Embassy in Tonga. "There's long list we're working on together, but it's all driven by a focus on the tangible, what can really make difference in people's lives," he said. The Secretary of State said the United States has "no objections" to China's investments in the region, but warned that these must be done without coercion or "with political ties." "If it's done productively, if it really responds people's needs, if it helps create a race to the top with others wanting help, that's a good thing," he said. Mr. Blinken's trip comes with US Secreta