France keeps December 12 date for New Caledonia's independence referendum. The pro-independence parties said they won't respect the result of the independence referendum, if France maintains December 12 as the date of the vote.
The parties said with a Kanak population in mourning, the situation isn't conducive to run a proper referendum campaign.
The anti-independence camp want the December date to be maintained, saying New Caledonia needs clarity. Two previous referendums, in 2018 and 2020, were won by anti-independence supporters.
New Caledonia isn't only country that might become an independent state. An independence referendum is scheduled to be held in Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2022.
Given Chuuk's closeness to Guam, it is considered a strategically important location. The US has warned Chuuk against independence, amid concern China's influence may increase in an independent Chuuk.
In addition to its strategic location, Chuuk contains one of the deepest lagoons in the Pacific. China has already paid $50 million towards building roads in Chuuk, and funded the construction of the Chuuk Government Complex.
Chuuk State Attorney General Sabino Asor has explicitly rejected the idea of inviting a Chinese military presence on an independent Chuuk, although they would welcome economic and diplomatic ties.
After another year of global uncertainty and disruption, spare a thought for the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the majority (97.7%) of whom voted for independence from Papua New Guinea in a 2019 referendum.