The global competition in the Western Pacific is not limited to just the rivalry between China and the United States (US). Among other actors, France is competing with both the US and China in regional policies. The tour that French President Emmanuel Macron has been conducting from July 23, 2023, to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia indicates Paris’s intention to protect and advance its interests in the region. In this area, especially where the competition between the US and China is intensifying, France is trying to make its voice heard.
Above all, France is cooperating with like-minded Western countries to ensure that the Western Pacific remains free and open. Due to the rapidly changing circumstances, France is increasingly participating in the US’s military influence operations in the region, its exercises, and patrols for freedom of navigation. The participation of French troops in large military exercises in the region led by the US-Australia coincides with Macron’s Pacific tour. Developments such as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attending the embassy opening in the Pacific Island nation of Tonga and the US recently signing a defense cooperation agreement with Papua New Guinea have heightened France’s interest in the region.
While the US is increasing its presence in the Western Pacific, Paris is trying to enhance its political, economic, and military influence in the ongoing competition with Washington. A notable point is that both France and the US allege a “China threat” in the region, legitimizing their regional influence. During his visit to Vanuatu, Macron warned against the “new imperialism” in the Pacific and condemned the predatory behavior of major powers in the region. In this context, the French leader stated:[1]
“In the Indo-Pacific, especially in Oceania, a new imperialism is emerging, and this power logic threatens the sovereignty of the most vulnerable and smallest states. The modern world is shaking the sovereignty and independence of the Indo-Pacific. The primary reason for this is the predatory attitudes of major powers.”
From the above words, it can be inferred that Macron’s warnings target Western rival nations rather than China. Notably, France had recently objected at NATO’s Vilnius Summit to the Alliance’s proposal to open an office in Japan, emphasizing that this step would escalate regional tension. Due to France’s objections, it will take time for NATO to focus on security issues in the Pacific. The US’s goal is to direct NATO and regional partners such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, especially against China. The biggest objection to this comes from France.
As Washington’s Pacific policy becomes more aggressive, Paris sees the dangerous consequences closely. Indeed, France, which owns numerous island territories in the Western Pacific, including French Polynesia, intends to resist the US’s dangerous steps if necessary to protect its millions of citizens in the region. France maintains 7,000 military personnel, 13 ships, and 11 fighter jets on these islands to protect its territories. Additionally, France has seven military bases in the Western Pacific.[2]
France explains its increasing military presence there with the intention to counter the “Chinese influence”. In this context, it has developed close ties with like-minded countries, mainly India and Australia. Leaving Australia aside recently, the commonalities of these actors include favoring peaceful security measures to keep the Western Pacific free and open and avoiding actions that would escalate tensions with China. On the other hand, France’s relations with Australia have been affected by AUKUS, which was established through the initiatives of the US and the UK. France’s long-term strategic goal is to protect its interests, extend its influence, and assert its presence through displays of power.
In the competition in the Western Pacific, Paris is following in Washington’s footsteps. France suffered its first major setback in the region against the US with AUKUS and later sought new collaborations with partners like India and Japan. Although France aims to ensure broad participation in military exercises in the Pacific with its Western allies, in the context of trilateral security dialogues, it works only with India and Australia. Indeed, Paris is concerned that its allies in the region tend to side with Washington. The close collaborations established by Australia and Japan with the US in recent times jeopardize France’s regional interests.
The US’s increasing “fight against China” rhetoric has been successful in the eyes of regional states and, to put it aptly, these actors have started to move “in Washington’s orbit”. Macron’s Western Pacific tour should be evaluated in this context. France is trying to show Pacific Island nations that it can be an “alternative” to the US. In this context, small and fragile Pacific Island countries, considering the dangers of being too dependent on China or the US, are open to developing relations with France.
The competition in the Western Pacific can be said to focus on relatively large and populous countries like the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. For instance, Papua New Guinea, the most populous Pacific Island country, after recently signing a security agreement with the US, is now working on a security agreement with Australia. On the other hand, China’s security agreement with the Solomon Islands has been one of the most debated topics in the past 10 months. The US has focused on expanding its political-military partnerships with both regional actors and Pacific Island nations to counter China’s growing influence.
Additionally, due to concerns about Beijing’s maritime activities, Washington has intensified its security patrols in Pacific islands. Diplomatically, France is also monitoring the US’s steps in the Pacific. A day after the visit of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Papua New Guinea on Thursday, July 27, 2023, Macron visited the aforementioned island nation. In general, the US and its regional allies are trying to deter Pacific Islands countries from establishing security ties with China. France is trying to find its place in this power struggle.
[1] “France’s Macron Warns Against New ‘Imperialism’ in the Pacific”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/frances-macron-warns-against-new-imperialism-pacific-2023-07-27/, (Date of Accession: 29.07.2023).
[2] “France: A Bridge between Europe and the Indo-Pacific?”, CSIS, https://www.csis.org/analysis/france-bridge-between-europe-and-indo-pacific,(Date of Accession: 29.07.2023).
