Pacific

China cleared to acquire Tahiti property

12:31 pm on 27 December 2018

China has secured a property in the French Polynesian capital after an earlier bid to buy a rented house had failed.

The French Polynesian government has approved China's acquisition of 1,200 sqm lot with its house in Papeete.

The premise is expected to become the new consulate.

This comes as the Chinese consulate is poised to renege on a contract with the owner of the building it had rented for 11 years.

It said three weeks ago it would only pay for the mutually agreed remedial work, which was undertaken after unauthorised alterations, if there is no negative mention of its officials on the internet.

However, the owner's daughter says China should not try some illicit blackmail, but lodge a complaint for defamation if it feels threatened.

Official Journal entry confirming government approval to buy Papeete property Photo: RNZ Pacific/Walter Zweifel