Emmanuel Macron tackles Pacific flashpoints as Paris burns

Emmanuel Macron and Malcolm Turnbull have hailed a ‘new strategic axis’ to counter security threats and the rise of China.

Hooded activists smash windows at a McDonald’s restaurant after it was hit with petrol bombs during a May Day riot in Paris. Picture: AP

Emmanuel Macron and Malcolm Turnbull have hailed a “new strategic axis” to counter security threats and the rise of China as the French President used a meeting in Sydney to condemn some of the most violent far-left riots in Paris in 50 years.

France’s Interior Minister last night promised to boost security in Paris after hooded youths ran amok at May Day demon­strations, torching cars and a ­McDonald’s restaurant. Police said 109 people were in custody after the violence, which sparked criticism that with Mr Macron in Australia, the government had been caught unprepared.

“The authority of the state, ­reduced to statements of ‘strong condemnation’, has been tarnished,” the right-leaning Figaro newspaper declared.

At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister at Kirribilli House, Mr Macron said: “May 1 is an international celebration … the day we celebrate workers, not rioters. I can only condemn again what has happened, with the greatest firmness.”

He said French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Interior Minister Gerard Collomb had the matter in hand. “Some ­arrests have been made, and all the necessary steps have been taken,” Mr Macron said.

Speaking on the second day of a three-day visit to Australia, Mr Macron spoke of his outrage at the “hooligans”.

Cars burn in Paris. Picture: AFP

During the press conference in Sydney, Mr Macron thanked Mr Turnbull and “your delicious wife” Lucy for “a very warm welcome”. It ­appeared he tripped in his use of English — in French the word “delicieuse” when referring to a woman usually means ­“delightful”.

Following talks with Mr Turnbull, a strong theme emerged of regional ­security and France’s ­determination to work with like-minded democracies in the Indo-Pacific to counter terrorism and regional aggression.

The visit is the first by a French president of a purely bilateral nature as opposed to that of Francois Hollande who attended the G20 summit in 2014.

Mr Macron vowed to work with Australia but also India, in part to create a “balance” to the growth of China.

Emmanuel Macron and Malcolm Turnbull in Sydney. Picture: Toby Zerna

Tthe next stop on Mr Macron’s regional tour is New Caledonia, which is preparing for a referendum on independence from France.

Mr Turnbull said the new joint strategic initiative included measures for mutual logistics support, and a new defence industry symposium going beyond the 12 submarines France is building for the Royal Australian Navy.

The two leaders announced a series of agreements including, as presaged by The Australian, the signing of a letter of intent ­towards a pact to combat cyber warfare. It would be the first operational French collaboration outside the Five Eyes member countries of the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Both warned China against disrupting the long stretch of development in the ­region which had let its people grow out of poverty into prosperity.

“We welcome the economic rise of China,” Mr Turnbull said, describing it as “unprecedented in scale and pace”. “That economic rise, that growth has been enabled and made possible by a rules-based order in our region.”

Mr Macron presents the Legion d’Honneur to veteran William Mackay. Picture: AAP

Mr Macron said it was necessary to “introduce some necessary balances in the region”. “It is ­important to not have any ­hegemony,” he said.

Mr Macron stressed France remained a major Indo-Pacific power with 1.6 million French citizens in its colonies in the region, and 8000 military personnel.

“We do want to favour free movement in the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Macron said.

“It’s about making sure the presence of France in the Pacific and the ­Indian Ocean is fully ­acknowledged.”

In a speech later in the day at Sydney’s Garden Island naval base on board the Royal Australian Navy’s flagship, the amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra, where he and Mr Turnbull inspected an attack helicopter and a Bushmaster armoured personnel carrier, Mr Macron expanded on his idea of a three-way strategic partnership.

“It is my belief that the Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis should (be) structuring on the regional and international scene,” he said.

Mr Macron with Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: AFP

Mr Macron said while both countries favoured free trade and wanted to advance talks towards a free-trade agreement between Australia and the EU, France would look after its interests.

“We will keep a close eye on the agricultural field and interests of French Pacific territories,” he said.

Mr Macron said progress had been made in discussions with Mr Turnbull, and he believed a mutually beneficial deal was achievable. “We are not wasting any time,” he said.

“We found the means and the solutions to the concerns we have had.”

Other agreements and memorandums of understanding covered educational exchanges and research co-operation, such as a joint initiative in order to understand the resilience of coral reefs.

Additional reporting: AFP