Pale Sofia

China and France in the South Pacific: Battle over Tahiti

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2014, №22, 17-26

 
Annotation: This article overviews the policy of China on the French Polynesia (Tahiti), analyzes the targets and describes the means Beijing used to fortify its presence in this French South Pacific territory by the 2010s. The rivalry between China and France for influence on the local government over the 2000s has led to massive inflow of the Chinese capital in the economy of Tahiti. This resulted in growing tensions between China the traditional regional leaders - Australia, the New Zealand, France and the US. Stronger China’s position in Tahiti was marked by growing cash money in the local economy that brought about the political disruption in this French territory. The author points out that France tends to see China as a serious threat that can deprive France of its important South Pacific geostrategic base of power in the Pacific Ocean - Tahiti.

Keywords: CHINA, FRANCE, TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA