Territorial Sovereignty Dispute | Vanuatu Prime Minister Firmly Demands That France Return the Disputed Islands!

Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat recently delivered a solemn statement in parliament, pointing out that as long as the sovereignty of Matthew Island (Umaenupne) and Hunter Island (Umaeneag/Leka) remains unresolved, Vanuatu's independence process cannot be considered truly complete.

Napat stated frankly that, as the country approaches its 46th independence anniversary, true national independence must be established on the foundation of "reclaiming all territories and territorial waters."

He emphasized that Vanuatu is an entity composed of 83 islands, and these two islands have been part of the national map since ancient times, carrying the deep ancestral culture and sacred heritage of regions such as Aneityum, and are by no means mere resource nodes for development.

Addressing the legacy of history, Napat denounced France's unilateral allocation of the two islands to New Caledonia during the colonial era as an "repulsive colonial act." He criticized the French side for making private agreements with neighboring countries back then without consulting the will of the Vanuatu people.

Currently, Vanuatu and France are in consultations regarding maritime boundary delimitation and the ownership of the islands. Although French President Emmanuel Macron promised last year to reopen negotiations, Napat expressed concern over the current slow progress and the postponement of the second round of talks.

He specifically pointed out that recent remarks by French officials about "not relinquishing sovereignty" cast doubt on France's sincerity in resolving the dispute.

To cope with the impasse, Vanuatu has entered a state of full "preparedness": the government has appointed Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Koanapo as the chief negotiator and retained the international law firm DLA Piper to provide professional support.

The investigation team has gathered evidence in the archives of six countries, including the UK, the US, and Australia, and has currently found no record of France ever consulting Vanuatu's opinion on the issue of the two islands. Napat also expressed disappointment at France's failure to fully open its archives.

Vanuatu has now established a dedicated "Office of Maritime Boundaries, Sovereignty, and Decolonization," led by Permanent Representative to the United Nations Alfred Antas, to coordinate diplomatic and legal means.

Napat warned that Vanuatu will not accept endless delays, and if the French side lacks sincerity for substantive dialogue, Vanuatu will defend its rights through international law and diplomatic channels.

Napat finally called for national unity and reiterated that there will be no compromise on sovereignty. These two volcanic islands, with a total area of only 130 hectares, are regarded by Vanuatu as the core task in the "final stage" of achieving national independence, as they involve an Exclusive Economic Zone of approximately 350,000 square kilometers and major maritime rights.