Caledonia wants to be French

Referendum shows support for Paris in its far-flung outposts

Noumea: Islanders on the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia rejected independence on Sunday in a referendum. Some 18,000 kilometres from the French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world’s known supplies of nickel — a vital electronics unit — and is a foothold for France in the Pacific where China is gaining influence.

Noumea, Nov 4: The Pacific islands of New Caledonia voted on Sunday to remain part of France in an independence referendum that showed support for Paris in one of its many far-flung but strategic outposts.

Some 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles) from the French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel -a vital electronics component -- and is a foothold for France in the Pacific where China is increasing its influence.

On the final count, 56.4 percent of people had rejected the proposition that New Caledonia become independent, a clear but smaller-than-expected victory for loyalists to the mainland.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “immense pride that we have taken this historic step together” in a televised address to the nation, adding it was “a sign of confidence in the French republic, in its future and its values.”Despite being a archipelago of islands, New Caledonia is sometimes referred to in France as “the pebble” and is home to about 175,000 people.

Turnout was high for the vote, at more than 80 percent. But there are fears the referendum could inflame tensions between indigenous Kanak people, who tend to favour independence, and the white population which has settled since France annexed the islands in 1853.

Several cars were burned late on Sunday.

18,000 km from French mainland, New Caledonia is home to a quarter of world's known supplies of nickel.