Maldives Commonwealth) _ Amidst strained relations with India over the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldives, the President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu departed for a state visit to China, following an invitation from China’s President Xi Jinping.
During the visit, the two nations are set to sign multiple agreements to strengthen bilateral relations, and Xi will organize a welcoming ceremony and dinner for Muizzu. The two presidents will conduct meetings and attend the signing ceremony for bilateral cooperation papers.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji are scheduled to meet with Muizzu separately. Muizzu will be the second highest-ranking official to visit China in recent weeks, following newly-elected Vice President Mohamed Latheef.
Muizzu’s predecessors had previously visited India first, but for his first formal visit, Muizzu chose Turkey in November. This was interpreted as another indication of the Maldives President’s anti-India posture, as he seeks to move the island nation away from Indian support. Even Abdullah Yameen, Muizzu’s close ally and the openly pro-China former head of the Maldives’ Progressive Party, paid his first visit to India.
Muizzu did, however, see Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 1 at the UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, in Dubai, where they addressed the status of their extensive bilateral ties. Both presidents decided to form a core committee to examine multidimensional connections and strengthen relationships.
Relations between the Maldives and India have been tense since Muizzu was elected president in November of last year. The pro-China politician, who rose to prominence in the ‘India Out’ movement, accused his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who had good connections with New Delhi, of admitting Indian soldiers onto the island country.
After becoming President, Muizzu asked the dismissal of 77 Indian workers and a review of 100 bilateral agreements. Muizzu’s administration has announced plans to cancel a hydrographic survey deal with India. The Maldives continues to benefit greatly from India’s Neighbourhood First policy, which has dramatically improved public welfare, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and combatting illicit marine operations in the country.
Soon after his election, Muizzu lost out with previous pro-China President Abdulla Yameen, whom he considered a mentor, and decided to pursue his own foreign and internal strategy. Under Yameen’s presidency, China completed substantial infrastructure projects despite charges of debt traps by certain important Maldivian politicians. Yameen left the ruling Progressive Party and founded his own People’s National Front (PNC) from prison.
A new scandal developed, threatening to exacerbate India-Maldives ties, after certain Male politicians made disparaging statements against the Indian Prime Minister during his recent visit to Lakshadweep. Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts, referred to PM Modi as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’ in her comments on his images. Some politicians even stated that Indian beaches did not satisfy the cleanliness standards of Maldives tourism destinations.
The move is excellent. However, the notion of competing with us is absurd. How can they deliver the service that we do? How are they so clean? The most significant disadvantage would be the permanent smell in the rooms, according to Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the governing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) who wrote on X.
This sparked outrage on social media, with many of Indians canceling their Maldives vacation reservations and flights. Celebrities, like Akshay Kumar, condemned the insults against the head of state on social media. The words have heightened anxieties among Maldivians, whose economy is highly reliant on tourism, with India contributing the most.
The Muizzu administration dismissed three ministers, claiming that their statements did not represent the opinions of the government. Three Maldives ministers, Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha, and Hassan Zihan, were suspended when the Indian High Commission highlighted the issue.
