China Affirms Maldives Right to Sovereignty

In a joint communique from Maldives and China resulting from the high-level bilateral discussions between the two nations, China has affirmed the Maldives right to sovereignty.

In the statement, China states that it fully supports the Maldives’ right to “upholding its national sovereignty, independence and national .” Further to this, China has assured its support of the Maldives charting its path for development that fits the requirements of the nation. China is against the interference in the Maldives internal affairs by external actors.

This support from China comes at a time when India is accused of having meddled in the political sphere of Maldives, having provided aid to the former government that favored India throughout its time in power.

The current government’s involvement with China has already resulted in backlash from India, with the recent attempted boycott campaign, among other events.

A disinformation campaign is being carried out against the Maldives by a section of the Indian media.

This is evidenced by a fact check carried out by AFP journalist Uzair Rizvi, who exposed a smear attempt.

Maldives has traditionally had a strong relationship with India, however recent events have caused tension. The new administration in Maldives’ refusal to bend to India’s will is a testament to the new government’s commitment to a “Maldives-First” policy, as the focus of the government is the development of the nation. This fact is further evidenced by the sheer number of agreements signed with China in recent days.