Why is Nantai Island so "hot"?, Mark Lombolincoln Visits Papua New Guinea | New Caledonia | Mark Lombolincoln

In recent years, the once calm South Pacific has become a hot spot for geopolitical changes. Half a month ago, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare successfully completed his second visit to China in nearly four years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two sides decided to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development in the new era. In recent days, French President Malone and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have visited many countries in South Pacific.

Among them, Antony Blinken plans to visit Tonga today to attend the inauguration ceremony of the US Embassy in Tonga. After visiting the French territory of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, Macron will also visit Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea starting today. Of particular note, Macron will thus become the first French president to visit illegally owned islands in the South Pacific.

Analysis suggests that in the constantly changing international geopolitical landscape, Western powers have begun to re-examine the strategic position of South Pacific Island countries, attempting to strengthen their influence in the South Pacific region.

The Development of Major Powers and the Relationship between Island Countries Should Maintain Sustainability

After visiting Tonga and attending the inauguration ceremony of the US embassy in Tonga, Antony Blinken will go to New Zealand and Australia. Although Tonga is the only South Pacific country Antony Blinken visited on his trip to Oceania, this visit is still of special significance. In January of this year, the United States announced the reopening of its embassy in the Solomon Islands, which had been closed for 30 years, and later announced the establishment of embassies in island countries such as Tonga, Vanuatu, and Kiribati to strengthen its diplomatic presence in the South Pacific region. Antony Blinken's visit will complete an important puzzle of the US diplomatic layout in South Pacific.

"Looking back at history, the South Pacific has been a region that the United States has long overlooked. It is only in recent years that with the increasing cooperation between China and island countries, which has stimulated the sensitive nerves of the United States, that the United States has turned to increase its investment in the South Pacific." Guo Chunmei, Deputy Director of the Institute of Southeast Asia and Oceania at the China Institute of Modern International Relations, told our reporter that China's cooperation with the South Pacific island countries has to some extent prompted the United States to increase its unprecedented attention to island countries.

At present, the United States is fully promoting the "Indo Pacific Strategy". Antony Blinken's trip is his third visit to Asia and Oceania in the past two months. In mid July, the United States once again announced a significant increase in diplomatic personnel and funding in Pacific island countries to "respond to China's growing influence in the region.".

Guo Chunmei stated that from the perspective of Pacific island countries, increasing investment from major powers is beneficial for regional development, but it also puts more pressure on island countries, as they are concerned about being asked to "choose sides and stand in line.". Therefore, island countries have always emphasized the need to adhere to the "Pacific approach", make friends widely, avoid making enemies, and maximize their own interests under limited competition from major powers, in order to avoid "choosing sides and standing in line".

"Whether it is China or the United States, pursuing win-win cooperation in the South Pacific region and maintaining sustainable development of relations with island countries is crucial," Guo Chunmei said.

France hopes to play a new demonstration role in the South Pacific region

New Caledonia is a French overseas territory in the South Pacific. In 2017, 2020, and 2021, New Caledonia held three independence referendums, all of which ended with a majority of votes supporting staying in France. According to the analysis of the American magazine Diplomat, Macron visited New Caledonia again after 5 years, with the aim of restoring trust between the French government and New Caledonia as much as possible after the independence referendum.

Guo Chunmei stated that although France is located in Europe, it has three overseas territories in the South Pacific: New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna Islands, and French Polynesia, which brings a certain degree of convenience to France's long-term presence in the South Pacific.

"Macron's visit this time is aimed at consolidating France's sovereignty in New Caledonia on one hand, and on the other hand, it is also a manifestation of unwillingness to fall behind in the current situation where major countries both domestically and internationally are increasing their investment in South Pacific." Guo Chunmei said that from the two target countries arranged by Macron's visit, Vanuatu is very close to New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea, as the largest country in South Pacific, holds a significant position and has clear strategic intentions.

Macron's office emphasized that this trip to South Pacific is not to "counter China" in South Pacific, but to encourage regional powers to establish diversified partnerships outside of Beijing and Washington. In the view of Wang Yiwei, Director of the European Union Research Center at Renmin University of China, Macron's visit is indeed different from the United States' "layout" of the South Pacific region. "France emphasizes natural handling of relations with countries in the region, including China, on a historical basis, and does not particularly emphasize the use of the concept of" Indo Pacific "to counter China, as the United States does." Wang Yiwei told this reporter that when dealing with international relations issues, France still has the spirit of independence and autonomy, and France also hopes to set an example to guide the European Union to consider the "Indo Pacific strategy" with a more open attitude. ". From the perspective of the Chinese side, we should understand and adopt a positive attitude towards France's stance, guiding France's foreign policy towards a direction that does not confront China.