New Caledonia Votes to Stay in France in Referendum

New Caledonia Votes to Stay in France in Referendum
French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation at the Elysee palace, after New Caledonia rejects independence in the third referendum, on Dec. 12, 2021. Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
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NOUMEA, New Caledonia—Voters in the French island territory of New Caledonia chose overwhelmingly Sunday to stay part of France, in a referendum boycotted by pro-independence forces and closely watched around the South Pacific.

French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the result as a resounding confirmation of France’s role in the Indo-Pacific, and announced negotiations on the territory’s future status.