French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the emergence of "new imperialism" in the Pacific during his visit to the region, raising concerns about the sovereignty of smaller states.

Speaking in Vanuatu, the first independent Pacific Island nation to be visited by a sitting French leader, Macron expressed the need to defend the independence and sovereignty of all states in the Indo-Pacific through partnerships.

The United States, the dominant military force in the region since World War II, has been reinforcing its influence in the region by increasing supplies, opening embassies, and signing defense deals, like the recent one with Papua New Guinea.

Intensifying rivalry

Ignoring the dark chapters of France's colonial past, Macron shockingly issued the warning over major powers' ambitions in the Pacific. France seeks to reassert itself as a "balancing power" in the region, having significant interests with its citizens and an exclusive economic zone in the Asia-Pacific.

During his visit, climate change emerged as a priority, with France and Vanuatu jointly calling for international action to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels.

Despite his efforts to engage with the Pacific region, Macron encountered resistance in New Caledonia, where some indigenous Kanaks boycotted talks with him, expressing concerns about separatism and its potential for violence.

In the same context, Macron received another major blow after Moetai Brotherson, a supporter of independence from France, was elected Last May as the president of France's Pacific region of French Polynesia. France has always exerted strained efforts to portray itself as a major player in the Pacific region because of its strategically important overseas territories.

Macron's Pacific tour coincided with visits by senior US officials, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussing concerns about Chinese investment in Tonga and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meeting with the government in Papua New Guinea and announcing the deployment of a US Coastguard ship there following the recent defense pact signing.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed a defense pact with the United States in May, giving US forces access to its airfields and ports as Washington seeks to increase its influence and expand its footprint in the Pacific region.

Read next: Papua New Guinea, US ink security pact amid protest

West competes with China over Pacific influence

Regional powers in the Pacific have pumped record amounts into the region's islands during the COVID-19 pandemic to help them cope with the economic fallout as the competition for influence between China and the West intensifies.

According to an annual study published by the Australian Lowy Institute, "financial assistance allocated to the Pacific Islands increased by 47% in 2020 compared to the previous year."

"There has been a massive increase in loans," said senior researcher Alexander Dayant, stating that the total funding rose to $4.2 billion, a record high roughly equivalent to Fiji's gross domestic product.

Overall, Pacific island economies shrank by 6.4% in 2020, double the global average, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund.

One of the institutions whose aid has also increased significantly is the Asian Development Bank, which is led by Japan and the United States. A significant part of the assistance also came in the form of direct loans, which eased short-term financial pressures, but problems may reappear in the long term.

It is noteworthy that the US, UK, and Australia had formed their AUKUS alliance amid China concerns. The alliance was based on enhancing Australia's nuclear capabilities through advanced technology and nuclear submarines in order to increase the alliance's strength in the South Pacific as China grows more influential in its region.

Read next: US pours $600M into the Pacific to "counter China's influence"