抗衡中國太平洋影響力 馬克宏訪法屬玻里尼西亞 中央社 20210729

抗衡中國太平洋影響力 馬克宏訪法屬玻里尼西亞    中央社 20210729

（中央社法屬玻里尼西亞巴比提28日綜合外電報導）為抗衡中國在太平洋地區日益擴大的優勢地位，法國總統馬克宏（Emmanuel Macron）訪問法屬玻里尼西亞，重申法國在太平洋的存在。

此趟出訪目的在強調法國政府對法屬玻里尼西亞的支持，並撫平法國在這個前殖民地持續30年核試驗帶來的傷痕。馬克宏昨天並未道歉，但坦承法國1966至1996 年間進行核試驗，有愧於法屬玻里尼西亞這塊土地上的人民。

法屬玻里尼西亞示威者歡迎馬克宏的說法，但也將觀察他之後是否會採行實際的行動。

馬克宏承諾撥款興建颶風收容所、協助法屬玻里尼西亞因應氣候變遷，也將在對抗COVID-19（2019冠狀病毒疾病）疫情方面提供更多支持。法屬玻里尼西亞多數島嶼沒有機場，得花數小時甚至數天時間，才到得了緊急醫療服務處所。

馬克宏表示，法屬玻里尼西亞人民「讓他打從心底深深感動」，而在南太平洋與印度洋的法國社群，對法國地緣政治策略扮演重要角色。

他提及法屬玻里尼西亞說：「我們要一起撰寫新的一頁。」

馬克宏此行重點，是為了應對中國對太平洋的野心勃勃。馬克宏談及此區域中的「世界強權對抗」，並提到法國仰賴近年來與澳洲、紐西蘭、印度、日本建立的夥伴關係。

他提醒法屬玻里尼西亞人「當心」，「有害的…危險的」基礎建設計畫，保證的是或許永遠不會兌現的就業機會。

中國是亞太各鄰國最大的貿易夥伴，各鄰國雖想靠著中國亟欲取得零組件、鐵礦砂、木材、石油與食物的胃口從中得利，但也對北京靠進入市場推動政治讓步的作法感到不安。法國、美國、日本等國政府，則擔心中國在他們的戰略範圍取得影響力。

法屬玻里尼西亞人口約30萬，由5個群島、118個島嶼組成。（譯者：鄭詩韻/核稿：嚴思祺）1100729

 

Without apologising, Macron says Paris owes 'debt' to French Polynesia over nuclear tests    France24 20210728

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Paris owed “a debt” to French Polynesia over nuclear tests conducted in the South Pacific territory between 1966 and 1996, but stopped short of apologising.

“I want truth and transparency,” Macron said in a speech to Polynesian officials during his first official trip to the territory, adding that there should be better compensation for victims of the tests.

“The nation owes a debt to French Polynesia. This debt is from having conducted these tests, in particular those between 1966 and 1974.”

The legacy of French testing in the territory remains a source of deep resentment and is seen as evidence of racist colonial attitudes that disregarded the lives of locals.

The tests were conducted from 1966 to 1996 as France developed nuclear weapons.

Officials denied any cover-up of radiation exposure earlier this month after French investigative website Disclose reported in March that the impact from the fallout was far more extensive than authorities had acknowledged, citing declassified French military documents.

Macron echoed the sentiments in his remarks on Tuesday.

“I want to tell you clearly that the military who carried them out did not lie to you. They took the same risks... There were no lies, there were risks that weren’t calculated, including by the military.”

“I think it’s true that we would not have done the same tests in La Creuse or in Brittany,” he said, referring to regions inside France.

Macron says France owes 'a debt' to French Polynesia

Calls for apology

Ahead of Macron’s four-day visit, residents in the sprawling archipelago of more than 100 islands located midway between Mexico and Australia were hoping that Macron would apologise and announce compensation for radiation victims.

Only 63 Polynesian civilians have been compensated for radiation exposure since the tests ended in 1996, Disclose said, estimating that more than 100,000 people may have been contaminated in total, with leukaemia, lymphoma and other cancers rife.

“We’re expecting an apology from the president,” Auguste Uebe-Carlson, head of the 193 Association of victims of nuclear tests, said ahead of Macron’s visit.

“Just as he has recognised as a crime the colonisation that took place in Algeria, we also expect him to declare that it was criminal and that it is a form of colonisation linked to nuclear power here in the Pacific.”

Meeting Macron on Tuesday on the island of Moorea, Lena Lenormand, the vice president of the association, renewed the call.

“There are urgent demands, people who are suffering. We’re asking you to own what the state did to these Polynesian people, for an apology and real support,” she told Macron.

“We can’t help but think that you are at the end of your term, so words are one thing, but afterwards, what will be done concretely?” she told Macron.

In response, Macron said he was “committed to changing things” regarding compensation.

“I’ve heard you, and I’ve heard what you are asking of me, and you will see my response.”

In his speech, Macron said that since his election in 2017, there has been progress in compensation claims, but he admitted that it was not enough and said the deadline for filing claims would be extended.