Relations with Maldives don’t target, can’t be disrupted by ‘third party’: China

China on Tuesday pledged to work with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic partnership and asserted that its ties with the island country do not target any third party nor can they be disrupted by any such party.

This seems to be a thinly veiled reference towards strained relations between India and Maldives after President Mohamed Muizzu came to power.

“More broadly, China is committed to working with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership… Normal cooperation between China and the Maldives does not target any third party and will not be disrupted by any third party,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in reply to a question on China’s military agreement with the Maldives.

This statement comes a day after China signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives to provide free military assistance to foster “stronger” bilateral ties, weeks after Muizzu set a deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel to leave the island nation. Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon “signed an agreement on China’s provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives, fostering stronger bilateral ties” with Chinese military official Major General Zhang Baoqun on Monday.