Visits follow one another like so many “firsts” for decades: by multiplying high-level trips to the South Pacific, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii or Papua New Guinea, the American authorities are trying to return to this strategic area to counter China’s advances – Beijing’s most recent success being the signing, announced on April 19, of a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, unprecedented in the region, which aims for reinforced police cooperation and authorizes the creation of a Chinese military base in the archipelago.
Member of the National Security Council of the American President, Joe Biden, the coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, Kurt Campbell, is expected these days in the Solomons, in the middle of the front line of the two world powers. The historic partner of the Solomons, Australia, was surprised by the agreement negotiated in secret by the Honiara authorities with Beijing. Who did not fail to formalize his signature with the Solomons on the eve of the American trip, and a few months before the commemoration, in August, of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal between the United States and the Empire of Japan.
“There is the idea that the Pacific Islands are the place from which a strategic surprise can arise”notes Christian Lechervy, current ambassador of France in Burma after having been with the Pacific Community (SPC), who spoke ” personally “ as an expert, Tuesday April 19, in a seminar of the Institute of international and strategic relations. “France must support American re-engagement”while being “driver in the next five years in the definition of concrete actions for the benefit of Pacific Island States”believes this diplomat.
Economic and assistance policy
Paris is indeed directly concerned by the ongoing Sino-American confrontation. Its overseas territories have ocean borders with eight countries in the region – Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Pitcairn (United Kingdom), Cook, Kiribati. According to Christian Lechervy, Paris should not overly militarize its approach, but develop its economic and assistance policy, in an area which has already entered the climate emergency.
Natural disasters, predation of resources and trafficking: the French army, with its modest means, is taking action against three main non-military threats, Admiral Jean-Mathieu Rey, commander of the French forces in the Pacific, said on Tuesday. A humanitarian assistance exercise is organized every year – the next one, “Marara”, from May 6 to 20, will be held around Tahiti. “We maintain diplomatic and military contact with China”says the admiral.
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