The Southeast Pacific Islands
New Caledonia
New Caledondia was discovered in 1774 by Captain James Cook and annexed by France in 1853. On July 31, 1984, The French National Assembly elected to give internal autonomy; however, due to ethnic tension and violence, France regained administration over the territory in 1988 until a referndum is issued in 1998. New Caledonia continues to be a possession of France and contributes large sums of nickel to the French economy.
The island was discovered by the Portugese in 1606, then charted and named by the British in 1774. France entered into a joint naval commission that administered the islands from 1887. Vietnamese labor was shipped over to work on the plantations until the market declined. The French settlers and plantation workers rebelled in 1980. Britain and France sent over troops who were later replaced by Papua New Guinea soldiers. Vanuatu gained independence in July of 1980 but continues to have France as a major trading partner.
The Southwest Pacific Islands
French Polynesia
This term is applied to the scattered islands in the South Pacific which belong to France. They were organized into one colony in 1903. Tahiti was claimed by the French in 1768 and the rest of the islands would follow nearly two centuries later. In 1958, the islands accepted the French Fifth Republic and remained an Overseas Territory. The atolls of French Polynesia provide nuclear testing sites for France, though recently, French President Jacques Chirrac has signed an agreement to end all nuclear testing and advancements.
Wallis & Futuna
These islands were initially settled by French missionaries at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1880, France established a protectorate which remained in place for 81 years. In 1961, France declared Wallis and Futuna as an Overseas Territory after the referendum of the Polynesian inhabitants.