[ TERMINAL ACCESS: GLOBAL FEED ]

SUVA. A minor armed confrontation reportedly occurred in the early hours of today within the exclusive economic zone off the Fiji Islands, involving the French Navy frigate "Montcalm" and the Fijian Coast Guard patrol boat "Kaikolo." According to multiple reports, the French vessel was attempting to enter Fijian territorial waters while escorting an unregistered small survey vessel. The "Kaikolo" issued repeated warnings and obstructed its path. The French side reportedly responded with warning shots, after which a limited exchange of fire developed between the two vessels. The Fijian government issued a statement, severely condemning the actions of the French warship as a "blatant challenge to the non-nuclear and environmental protection order of the Pacific." It further emphasized that the incident was a direct consequence of France attempting to force passage despite Fiji's prior refusal of transit applications for French naval vessels. In contrast, sources within the French Ministry of Defense in Paris maintained that the transit was an assertion of "freedom of navigation under international law" and that no illegal acts had been committed. In response to this incident, the South American Union (SAU) immediately declared its full support for the Fijian government. The SAU Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning France's actions as an "attempt to destabilize the region" and a "vestige of past imperialism." This clash indicates that France continues to reject the Pacific order as a "non-nuclear and environmental protection sea" championed by the SAU, and tensions in the region have reached an extreme level.