The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. In recent years, French Polynesia’s autonomy has been considerably expanded.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fp.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesia