Maldives exposes India's backfiring China containment strategy

Nikkei Asia ^

[FarCenter]

...

Despite longstanding civilizational, political and economic ties -- and acts of goodwill, such as Indian aid for the Maldives during a 2014 water crisis and assistance after the deadly December 2004 tsunami -- India has struggled to sustainably counter China's growing presence in the region.

Rather, outreach efforts and investments have given rise to perceptions that India is a pushy big neighbor only interested in securing its position against another giant.

The national flag of the Maldives flies at half mast in Male in January 2005, after the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami. © Reuters At the root of this is a common thread through India's ties with the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal, since China started flexing its financial muscle.

"It is a case of distrust that you see in assessing India's treatment of its smaller neighbors," said a former head of a South Asian foreign ministry, on condition of anonymity. "New Delhi doesn't trust the governments of these countries, particularly in deals with China, so it tries to exert pressure, micromanage even in a petty way and upsets the locals."

The rise of this anti-India political tide was palpable in the coffee shops that dot Male, the capital. Voters did not need much coaxing to openly share concerns about India gaining a deeper hold on their country under Solih, whose pro-India leanings were meant to counter the pro-China tilt of his predecessor, Yameen, President-elect Muizzu's political patron.

Critics concerned about sovereignty pointed to New Delhi's gift of military assets, such as two helicopters and a Dornier plane. The aircraft also came with 75 military personnel who, reportedly, enjoy diplomatic immunity.

Maldivians were equally suspicious of India's offer to develop a coast guard harbor for Maldivian forces and the construction of a national college of policing -- "all excuses for India to infiltrate the Maldives to set up a permanent presence," as a supporter of Muizzu remarked.

Other voters highlighted anecdotal accounts about the Indian Embassy directly engaging with Maldivian ministries over appointments of jobs in the state sector.

[texas booster]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

People will always act human, for good or bad.

[moovova]

What’s the big deal?

Aren’t the Maldives sinking because off Global Climate Warming Change Crisis? Aren’t they due to be underwater in 7.53 years?

[dfwgator]

Maldives is Muslim, they don’t like Hindus.

[DanZ]

I wonder how their opinions will change when China starts imposing their will and/or stop giving them $$$. As always follow the $$$$

[FarCenter]

The Maldives were devastated by a tsunami on 26 December 2004, following the Indian Ocean earthquake. Only nine islands were reported to have escaped any flooding,[56][57] while fifty-seven islands faced serious damage to critical infrastructure, fourteen islands had to be totally evacuated, and six islands were destroyed. A further twenty-one resort islands were forced to close because of tsunami damage. The total damage was estimated at more than US$400 million, or some 62% of the GDP.[58] 102 Maldivians and 6 foreigners reportedly died in the tsunami.[55] The destructive impact of the waves on the low-lying islands was mitigated by the fact there was no continental shelf or land mass upon which the waves could gain height. The tallest waves were reported to be 14 feet (4.3 m) high.[59]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives

[SunkenCiv]

• Maldives Could Relinquish Control Of An Island As Chinese Loan & Pressure Mounts [09/19/2020]
• Rift Between China, International Community Over Maldives Growing (VOA News) [02/09/2018]

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• India Issues Terror Alert Over Possible Hijacking [01/21/2010]
• (Indian)Navy eyes Maldives-Counter to China's 'string of pearls' plan [08/20/2009]

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• Ousted Maldives President Claims Obama Approved Islamist Coup [04/20/2012]
• Barack Obama makes Falklands gaffe by calling Malvinas the Maldives [04/16/2012]

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• Former Leader And Two Supreme Court Judges Arrested In Maldives State Of Emergency [02/05/2018]
• Radical Islamic gangs implicated in Maldives journalist's disappearance [09/26/2014]
• Al-Qaeda releases video of US suicide bomber in Syria [07/26/2014]

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• Trouble in paradise: Maldives and Islamic extremism [02/12/2012]
• Maldives: Islamists Storm National Museum, Destroy Entire Collection of 12th Century Buddhist [02/12/2012]
• Rising Islamism Set Stage for Maldives Coup [02/10/2012]
• US envoy to head to violence-hit Maldives [02/08/2012]
• Maldives: Muslim hardliners smashes Buddhist statues in national museum [02/08/2012]
• Maldives president resigns after police and army mutiny [02/07/2012]

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• Israel to be investigated for possible 'war crimes' over Gaza raids [07/23/2014]
• U.N. launches probe into alleged Israeli crimes in Gaza [07/23/2014]
• China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam in line for seats on UN Human Rights Council [11/12/2013]

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• Maldives president vetoes marital rape bill as 'un-Islamic' [01/20/2014]
• Alleged Maldives rape victim,15,to get 100 lashes for premarital sex ( Libs found their religion ) [02/27/2013]
• Rape Victim to Be Flogged Under Islamic Law [01/10/2013]
• 15-year-old raped by stepfather faces flogging for 'fornication' ( Sunni Muslims ?) [01/07/2013]
• Thousands Demonstrate in Maldives Over Islamic Law [12/23/2011]
• Revolutions, walk-outs and fatwas [01/17/2011]
• Maldives: reform in politics but not in religious liberty [12/10/2008]
• Maldives -- non-Muslim Maldivians to lose their citizen rights as new constitution is ratified [10/11/2008]
• Islamic Terror Hits Tourist Paradise [11/16/2007]
• Maldives moves against veiled women, jihadis on TV [11/14/2007]
• Maldives Clears Out 'Extremist' Mosque [10/08/2007]
• (Islamic) "Gang Rapists" Given Eight Months Exile [07/23/2007]
• Aniya Arrested Over Article "Against Islam" [05/03/2007]

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• Maldives minister: Failure to limit warming a death sentence [10/20/2021]
• Hell or High Water [03/07/2020]
• Global Warming Will Drown Bangkok, Shanghai, Mumbai [11/01/2019]
• NBC & CBS Scare Viewers With Climate Panic: Millions Will Be Underwater! [10/30/2019]
• 1989: U.N. Predicts Disaster if Global Warming Not Checked [03/18/2019]
• Rising sea levels may build, rather than destroy, coral reef islands [11/15/2018]
• 30 Years Ago Officials Predicted The Maldives Would Be Swallowed By The Sea. It Didn't Happen [09/21/2018]
• Wikileaks sordid details reveals climate science is irrelevant [12/04/2010]
• Maldives cabinet holds underwater meeting [10/20/2009]
• Maldives Cabinet Meets Below Waves to Highlight Climate Change Threat (scuba meeting) [10/18/2009]
• Maldives loses 42 islands as tsunami toll hits 117 (Global Warming Alert) [12/30/2004]
• New Maldives Island Rises from the Depths (manmade island for up to 153,000 people) [12/11/2004]

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• 'You are swine and infidels' . . . secret insults at wedding blessing in paradise [12/30/2011]
• So, about the foul-mouthed wedding ceremony video ... [11/04/2010]
• The exploited Maldives 'celebrants' are the victims here, not the Swiss couple [10/29/2010]
• Couple's 'Vow Renewal' in Maldives Was String of Insults [10/29/2010]
• COUPLE CALLED 'SWINES' AND 'INFIDELS' IN MALDIVES WEDDING [10/28/2010]
• Unwitting Western couple mocked as 'infidel' and 'swine' during foreign language wedding ceremony. [10/28/2010]

[moovova]

The Maldives have a huge land reclamation project underway. Seems to have created a battle...

"Maldives’ Land Reclamation Projects: Balancing Development and Environmental Concerns"

https://mbt.mv/maldives-land-reclamation-projects-balancing-development-and-environmental-concerns/

Anywho...seems like a beautiful place to visit.

[moovova]

Here's another article...with China in it up to their waders.

https://www.dredgingtoday.com/2023/03/20/thilafushi-land-reclamation-moves-forward/

"HDC stated that the project is moving forward according to schedule, and the contractor – China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) – is currently working on the boundary wall for the reclamation process....CHEC, a subsidiary of the Sinamale’ Bridge developer China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), was contracted for the project on December 15, 2022."

[dfwgator]

Anywho...seems like a beautiful place to visit.

The perfect place for Muzzie terrorists to take a lot of Western hostages. Stay away.

[sit-rep]

dunno about all that, but it is on my bucket list to Kiteboard there!! KAROLINA WINKOWSKA hosts this clip!! an icon in the Kite community!!

https://youtu.be/lz6dRBlgqog