The Pacific territory of New Caledonia goes to the polls at the weekend for a third and final referendum on independence from France with campaigning marked by angry demands to call off the vote because of the Covid pandemic.
The territory, some 2,000 kilometres east of Australia, was allowed three independence referendums under a 1988 deal aimed at easing tensions on the island group.
France regards itself as a major Indo-Pacific power thanks to overseas territories like New Caledonia. Australia infuriated France in September by ditching a submarine contract in favour of a security pact with Britain and the United States. "All China needs now to complete its pearl necklace on Australia's doorstep is New Caledonia," he said.
The French government has rejected the demand, saying the virus spread had slowed down with the infection rate down to a relatively modest 80 to 100 cases per 100,000 people. "It is important that the mobilisation of the no-independence supporters remains absolute, to show that they are in a majority and united in their wish for New Caledonia to remain part of the French Republic," Thierry Santa, president of the conservative Rassemblement-LR party, wrote in a letter to voters.
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