The Maldives shakes hand with India, embraces China

On its 55th independence day – Male expresses deep gratitude towards Beijing’s socio-economic investments in the island nation as it upheld the One-China policy, while accepting New Delhi’s message on friendship

@Kunal­_Chonkar

New Delhi: The Maldivian two-pronged diplomacy to engage with India, while embracing China, has once again stumped New Delhi. Male while celebrating its 55th year of independence not only accepted India’s ‘all weather friendship’ but also affirmed to take its relations with Beijing ‘to new heights’.

The dichotomy of the Maldivian government surfaced while India prepares to announce a ‘substantial financial assistance package’ for Male to help it tide over economic woes caused mainly by the loss in tourism due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The island nation under the leadership of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih reeling under the $3 billion debt to China was looking to India and Saudi Arabia for help. However, the latest statements from its leadership seem to suggest otherwise.

In an interview to Chinese state-run media agency Xinhua, the Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid vouched that the government will work ‘to strengthen and ensure that relations between Male and Beijing would continue to maintain the momentum of development and the Maldives will take all necessary steps to impel the existing bonds of friendship and understanding between the two countries to new heights in the years to come’.

His interview was published on the same day, after the Indian Embassy in Male issued an official statement on the occasion of the Maldivian Independence Day describing India-Maldives ties as ‘an all-weather friendship steeped in history and with a glorious future’.

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In his interview with the Chinese press, Shahid said that Male upholds ‘the one-China principle and is willing to work with China to further strengthen bilateral relations’. The foreign minister added that the Maldives has greatly benefited in the implementation of development projects with the help of Chinese assistance and looks forward to further strengthening mutually beneficial development cooperation.

Speaking on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Shahid said that the assistance the Maldives has received from China over the years has contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the country. From social housing to the implementation of infrastructure projects as well as human resource development. He held the 2.1 km-long, first sea-cross Sinamale bridge built by a Chinese company as a visible symbol of friendship between the two countries.

Shahid was quoted saying that ‘the government of Maldives remains committed to working with China in completing the ongoing projects and to engage in new ones in the future’.

Male’s deep appreciation for Chinese assistance and affection towards President Xi Jinping emerges as allegations surface hinting of the government leasing 12 islands to Beijing. The allegations were made a couple of weeks ago by Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament Mohamed Nasheed.

Nasheed’s statements on Chinese expansion in the littoral waters surrounding Male saw a sharp reaction from Chinese Ambassador Zhang Lizhong, who took to Twitter stating that the former president’s claims ‘are simply untrue’. The Chinese diplomat in his four-part Tweet replying to Nasheed insisted that ‘there is simply no such thing as 12 islands’.