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French Polynesia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on French Polynesia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Papeete

Head of State

President of France Emmanuel Macron

Head of Government

President Moetai Charles Brotherson

Hong Kong’s Aloha Adventure Squad is the first team from the city to complete the Hawaiki Nui Va’a race in French Polynesia. Photo: Handout

Water sports

12-hour races to humpback whales: Hong Kong canoeists make Pacific history

Team of legal and finance professionals, sports coaches and a barber complete the torturous Hawaiki Nui Va’a race in French Polynesia.

27 Dec 2025 - 10:08AM

New Zealand

Japanese warships return to Wellington after 90 years, boosting Pacific ties

8 Aug 2025 - 1:16PM

Climate change

Opinion | Australia should leave politics out of climate collaboration with China

3 Jul 2025 - 9:46PM

Pacific nations

A drop in the ocean? Pacific nations tap local know-how for marine conservation

Among the measures being taken are a ban on fishing and mining activities in vast marine protected areas.

27 Jun 2025 - 9:30AM

Children take a canoe to school in Solomon Islands. Pacific island nations have stepped up their marine conservation plans. Photo: Shutterstock

New Zealand

Classified New Zealand papers detail alarm over China’s Pacific missile test

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act reveal deep diplomatic unease about China’s ‘mischaracterisation’ of its ICBM launch.

18 Jun 2025 - 1:26PMvideocam

Tourism

French Polynesian cruise shows every storm cloud has a silver lining

Cruise passengers forced off course by storms get a rare glimpse of the Marquesas Islands before the weather breaks for a postcard finish.

25 Mar 2025 - 7:40AM

Tourism

A Moana holiday sailing in Tahiti offers tastes of Polynesian tradition

Inspired by Disney’s Moana? Channel the Polynesian princess in Tahiti, where traditional vessels take visitors on cultural journeys by water.

5 Dec 2024 - 5:21AM

The Vaapiti, a double-hulled canoe, in French Polynesia. Photo: Vaapiti

Malaysia

She left Malaysia to sail the world for freedom, adventure – and the ‘soft life’

Syasya Syahirah Nor Azmi gave up her life in Penang for the gentle sway of a sailing boat thousands of miles from home. Life is good, even if it can get lonely at times. And she misses the food.

28 Apr 2024 - 4:00PM

China’s military

China, France deepen military cooperation as South China Sea tensions rise

Agreement on inter-theatre cooperation and dialogue mechanism with PLA comes as France joins US-Philippine drills in contested South China Sea waters.

27 Apr 2024 - 9:30PMvideocam

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

China has its first Olympic surfer as Yang, 14, becomes youngest Paris qualifier

Teenager ‘super-excited’ and admits she was initially unaware that her World Surfing Games results had clinched her a ticket to Tahiti, where the Paris Games’ surfing events will be held.

2 Mar 2024 - 8:15PM

Yang Siqi on her way to an Olympic place at the World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Surfing in Tahiti, football in Marseille – how to attend Olympics outside Paris

There have been gloomy forecasts about Paris’ transport and accommodation, but football will be held all over France, while sports such as equestrian and sailing will be staged entirely outside the capital.

21 Jan 2024 - 9:00AM

The 2024 Olympic surfing events will be held in Tahiti. Photo: Shutterstock

South China Sea

‘Likely to agitate China’: European powers step up their Indo-Pacific presence

Concerns about China, trade routes and upholding international law have seen Germany and Italy join France in making their regional presence felt, but analysts say increased European involvement could do more harm than good.

7 Jan 2024 - 12:00PM

Celebrity children

Does Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk’s unique co-parenting style really work?

Six-year-old Lea De Seine holidays with Diane Von Furstenberg and doesn’t have a nanny, while her separated parents even continue to take sexy snaps of each other – so what’s going on?

18 Dec 2023 - 5:00AM

Food and Drinks

Why Hong Kong cocktail bar Kinsman features obscure Cantonese spirits

Canadian-Chinese food writer turned bartender Gavin Yeung talks about his Hong Kong bar, Kinsman, and why it serves cocktails made with rare Cantonese spirits: to revive the city’s ‘forgotten history’.

7 Dec 2023 - 12:45PM

Hong Kong cocktail bar Kinsman’s founder, Gavin Yeung. Born in Vancouver, the Chinese-Canadian food writer turned bartender talks about his mission to save Hong Kong’s “forgotten history” by serving drinks made with Cantonese spirits. Photo: May Tse

The Philippines

Philippines, France agree to ramp up defence ties

The boost to bilateral defence cooperation includes seeking authority from leaders of both countries to negotiate a status of visiting forces agreement.

2 Dec 2023 - 7:15PM

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu (left) shakes hands with his Philippine counterpart Secretary Gilberto Teodoro as they hold a document during a joint press conference at a hotel in Manila, Philippines on Saturday. Photo: Pool via AP

China's economic recovery

From snorkels to skiing, Chinese travellers eye the less trodden path

Chinese tourists hit 40.3 million in the first half of 2023, down from 155 million in all of 2019, but those who travel are seen to ‘prioritise personalised travel services catering to specific interests and passions’.

27 Oct 2023 - 11:30AMvideocam

United States

My Take | What independence really means for two tiny Pacific island states

Self-governing Cook Islands and Niue have exchanged their freedom in political association with New Zealand for dominated status under the United States.

29 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

My Take

My Take | Why Beijing’s security pact with Solomons has been a huge blunder

Islands provide perfect example of ‘China threat’ for US and its allies as they then turn central and south Pacific into their sphere of influence.

27 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

FILE : Ships are docked offshore in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands on November 24, 2018. Photo: AP

US-China relations

My Take | Claims by US over central Pacific now rival those of Beijing in South China Sea

Washington’s new pacts with three island states will establish a second island chain of attack as a complete sphere of influence in breach of international law and its own interpretation of freedom of navigation.

25 Sep 2023 - 9:00PM

Pacific nations

Tiny Cook Islands, Niue to get US embassies amid Biden’s powered-up Pacific push

Fewer than 2,000 people call isolated Niue home, while the Cook Islands have a permanent population well under 20,000. Biden has put a premium on improving Pacific ties amid rising US concern about China’s influence.

25 Sep 2023 - 6:53PMvideocam

Pacific nations

US ‘back in force’ in Pacific as Biden engages with regional leaders at summit

The White House is hosting Pacific island leaders on Monday as Biden promises to take US engagement in region to ‘next level’ but there are notable absences from the meeting.

25 Sep 2023 - 3:26AMvideocam

US President Joe Biden poses with leaders from the US-Pacific Island Country Summit at the White House in Washington on Sept. 29, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Sri Lanka

France seeks Sri Lanka ties in aim to be ‘alternative’ Indo-Pacific power

France is looking to bolster its ties with Sri Lanka and believes it can be ‘a balancing power’ in the Indo-Pacific, analysts say.

27 Aug 2023 - 11:30AM

France’s President Emmanuel Macron chats with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during an overnight stopover in Colombo last month.Photo: President Media/Handout via Reuters

Diplomacy

Opinion | Why China should care about French interests in Africa and the Pacific

France could help China improve its EU ties under the banner of strategic autonomy – but Beijing would need to steer clear of red lines in francophone Africa and the South Pacific.

8 Aug 2023 - 1:25AMvideocam

Australia

‘I’m alive’: Australian lost at sea with a dog opens up about his 3-month ordeal

Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock is back on dry land and looking forward to seeing his family in Australia again. But Bella the dog won’t be joining him.

20 Jul 2023 - 4:17PMvideocam

Australia

Australian ‘castaway’ and dog survived 2 months at sea on rainwater, raw fish

Tim Shaddock and his dog, Bella were found in good health by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico this week, after they were lost at sea for two months.

17 Jul 2023 - 3:34PM

Sydney’s Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were forced to spend more than two months adrift after a shipwreck before they were found. Photo: SCMPOST

Luxury yachts

The ultimate guide to chartering a luxury yacht in 2023

While chartering a yacht to a stunning summer destination may sound simple, the reality is different: here’s what one Google executive learned from the experience, and how to avoid the same issues

13 Jul 2023 - 5:16PM

Chartering a luxury yacht requires you to make a number of choices – including what kind of aquatic toys you want on board, which destination to visit and more. Photo: Fraser Vibrance

South China Sea

Opinion | France’s Indo-Pacific intervention is going full steam ahead

Extended military deployments in Asia and the pursuit of arms deals with several regional countries are demonstrating France’s desire to play a greater role in the Indo-Pacific.

8 Jul 2023 - 4:36AM

Tourism

7 unsung wine-producing countries to visit, from Georgia to China and India

From Georgia to China and Uruguay, we visit 7 below-the-radar destinations for wine lovers, find out what there is to see on a wine tour, and some of their other attractions for tourists.

7 Jul 2023 - 7:15PM

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French Polynesia

12-hour races to humpback whales: Hong Kong canoeists make Pacific history

Team of legal and finance professionals, sports coaches and a barber complete the torturous Hawaiki Nui Va’a race in French Polynesia.

Japanese warships return to Wellington after 90 years, boosting Pacific ties

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Australia should leave politics out of climate collaboration with China

A drop in the ocean? Pacific nations tap local know-how for marine conservation

Among the measures being taken are a ban on fishing and mining activities in vast marine protected areas.

Classified New Zealand papers detail alarm over China’s Pacific missile test

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act reveal deep diplomatic unease about China’s ‘mischaracterisation’ of its ICBM launch.

French Polynesian cruise shows every storm cloud has a silver lining

Cruise passengers forced off course by storms get a rare glimpse of the Marquesas Islands before the weather breaks for a postcard finish.

A Moana holiday sailing in Tahiti offers tastes of Polynesian tradition

Inspired by Disney’s Moana? Channel the Polynesian princess in Tahiti, where traditional vessels take visitors on cultural journeys by water.

She left Malaysia to sail the world for freedom, adventure – and the ‘soft life’

Syasya Syahirah Nor Azmi gave up her life in Penang for the gentle sway of a sailing boat thousands of miles from home. Life is good, even if it can get lonely at times. And she misses the food.

China, France deepen military cooperation as South China Sea tensions rise

Agreement on inter-theatre cooperation and dialogue mechanism with PLA comes as France joins US-Philippine drills in contested South China Sea waters.

China has its first Olympic surfer as Yang, 14, becomes youngest Paris qualifier

Teenager ‘super-excited’ and admits she was initially unaware that her World Surfing Games results had clinched her a ticket to Tahiti, where the Paris Games’ surfing events will be held.

Surfing in Tahiti, football in Marseille – how to attend Olympics outside Paris

There have been gloomy forecasts about Paris’ transport and accommodation, but football will be held all over France, while sports such as equestrian and sailing will be staged entirely outside the capital.

‘Likely to agitate China’: European powers step up their Indo-Pacific presence

Concerns about China, trade routes and upholding international law have seen Germany and Italy join France in making their regional presence felt, but analysts say increased European involvement could do more harm than good.

Does Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk’s unique co-parenting style really work?

Six-year-old Lea De Seine holidays with Diane Von Furstenberg and doesn’t have a nanny, while her separated parents even continue to take sexy snaps of each other – so what’s going on?

Why Hong Kong cocktail bar Kinsman features obscure Cantonese spirits

Canadian-Chinese food writer turned bartender Gavin Yeung talks about his Hong Kong bar, Kinsman, and why it serves cocktails made with rare Cantonese spirits: to revive the city’s ‘forgotten history’.

Philippines, France agree to ramp up defence ties

The boost to bilateral defence cooperation includes seeking authority from leaders of both countries to negotiate a status of visiting forces agreement.

From snorkels to skiing, Chinese travellers eye the less trodden path

Chinese tourists hit 40.3 million in the first half of 2023, down from 155 million in all of 2019, but those who travel are seen to ‘prioritise personalised travel services catering to specific interests and passions’.

My Take | What independence really means for two tiny Pacific island states

Self-governing Cook Islands and Niue have exchanged their freedom in political association with New Zealand for dominated status under the United States.

My Take | Why Beijing’s security pact with Solomons has been a huge blunder

Islands provide perfect example of ‘China threat’ for US and its allies as they then turn central and south Pacific into their sphere of influence.

My Take | Claims by US over central Pacific now rival those of Beijing in South China Sea

Washington’s new pacts with three island states will establish a second island chain of attack as a complete sphere of influence in breach of international law and its own interpretation of freedom of navigation.

Tiny Cook Islands, Niue to get US embassies amid Biden’s powered-up Pacific push

Fewer than 2,000 people call isolated Niue home, while the Cook Islands have a permanent population well under 20,000. Biden has put a premium on improving Pacific ties amid rising US concern about China’s influence.

US ‘back in force’ in Pacific as Biden engages with regional leaders at summit

The White House is hosting Pacific island leaders on Monday as Biden promises to take US engagement in region to ‘next level’ but there are notable absences from the meeting.

France seeks Sri Lanka ties in aim to be ‘alternative’ Indo-Pacific power

France is looking to bolster its ties with Sri Lanka and believes it can be ‘a balancing power’ in the Indo-Pacific, analysts say.

Opinion | Why China should care about French interests in Africa and the Pacific

France could help China improve its EU ties under the banner of strategic autonomy – but Beijing would need to steer clear of red lines in francophone Africa and the South Pacific.

‘I’m alive’: Australian lost at sea with a dog opens up about his 3-month ordeal

Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock is back on dry land and looking forward to seeing his family in Australia again. But Bella the dog won’t be joining him.

Australian ‘castaway’ and dog survived 2 months at sea on rainwater, raw fish

Tim Shaddock and his dog, Bella were found in good health by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico this week, after they were lost at sea for two months.

The ultimate guide to chartering a luxury yacht in 2023

While chartering a yacht to a stunning summer destination may sound simple, the reality is different: here’s what one Google executive learned from the experience, and how to avoid the same issues

Opinion | France’s Indo-Pacific intervention is going full steam ahead

Extended military deployments in Asia and the pursuit of arms deals with several regional countries are demonstrating France’s desire to play a greater role in the Indo-Pacific.

7 unsung wine-producing countries to visit, from Georgia to China and India

From Georgia to China and Uruguay, we visit 7 below-the-radar destinations for wine lovers, find out what there is to see on a wine tour, and some of their other attractions for tourists.

Opinion | Australia should leave politics out of climate collaboration with China