French President Emmanuel Macron made his first visit to the independent state of Vanuatu as part of the archipelago to discuss climate change, acknowledge colonial history, and present the French "strategy for the Indo-Pacific region," Euronews has reported.
In his speech, the French President criticized "new imperialists" offering "cabalistic" loans in Oceania, though he did not directly point to Beijing.
Macron emphasized that Paris's presence in New Caledonia and Polynesia could serve as an alternative and "balancing force" in the region.
Macron's tour coincided with the arrival of the Pentagon chief in Papua New Guinea and the U.S. Secretary of State in the Kingdom of Tonga. Such energetic diplomatic efforts indicate the West's endeavors to counter China's influence.
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