At least four Japanese nationals in New Caledonia have evacuated with support from Australia, a Japanese government source said Tuesday, as deadly violence has continued in the French Pacific territory for more than a week.
Earlier in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that the government will respond "appropriately" to the New Caledonia crisis while considering the wishes of Japanese nationals who intend to stay there.
Around 300 Japanese citizens, including about 50 temporary visitors, are in New Caledonia, according to a Foreign Ministry official. A government source said it is likely that all those who departed aboard an Australian airplane were tourists.
Earlier Tuesday, Australia and New Zealand pledged to evacuate their nationals in New Caledonia after France declared an emergency in the territory last week.
The riots broke out in the capital Noumea on May 13 as lawmakers in Paris debated constitutional changes that would expand the electorate in New Caledonia's provincial elections to French residents who have lived in the archipelago for 10 years.
Opponents fear the move would strengthen the position of pro-France politicians by diluting the vote of the indigenous Kanak Melanesian population. The unrest has resulted in numerous fires and widespread looting of businesses and public property.
