Maldives crisis: China suggests India should not intervene
BEIJING: China on Wednesday opposed any external intervention to resolve the political crisis in the Maldives while responding to former president Mohamed Nasheed’s call to India to use its military to end the turmoil in the island nation.
Nasheed, currently in self-exile in Sri Lanka, was undeterred by China’s stance and reiterated his demand for Indian intervention on Wednesday, saying Maldivians were looking to India for help as they see the country playing the role of a liberator.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang didn’t mention India at a regular news briefing but left no doubt which country he was referring to when he said Beijing opposed foreign intervention.
“The international community should play a constructive role on the basis of respecting the Maldives’ sovereignty instead of taking measures that could complicate the current situation,” Geng said when he was asked about Nasheed’s remarks.
“The current situation in the Maldives is its internal affairs. China follows the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of others,” Geng said in response to a question on allegations by Maldivian opposition parties that Beijing is backing embattled President Abdulla Yameen as he had approved Chinese projects.
Nasheed had asked India on Tuesday to send an “envoy, backed by its military” to free two Supreme Court judges and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who were detained on the orders of Yameen. “We request a physical presence,” he said.
Brushing aside China’s opposition to foreign intervention, Nasheed tweeted on Wednesday: “Saying ‘resolve things internally’ is akin to asking us to escalate the revolt, which can lead to chaos... “Maldivians see India’s role positively: in ’88 they came, resolved the crisis, and left. They were not occupiers but liberators. This is why Maldivians look to India now.”
The Maldives, an archipelago off India’s southern coast, plunged into political turmoil after the Supreme Court last week cleared Nasheed of terror charges, ordered the release of eight jailed opposition leaders.
Yameen refused to comply with the order and instead imposed emergency on Monday. The government detained two top judges, including the Chief Justice, and former president Gayoom before judges perceived as loyal to Yameen rolled back the order on Tuesday.
Geng said China believes “relevant parties” in the Maldives should find a solution internally.
“We hope parties in the Maldives can resolve the issue through consultations and restore national stability,” he said. Geng refuted allegations by Maldivian opposition parties that China is tacitly backing Yameen because he has approved several Chinese projects and signed a controversial Free Trade Agreement during his visit to Beijing in December.
UNDETERRED BY CHINA STANCE, NASHEED REITERATED MALDIVES WAS LOOKING TO INDIA FOR HELP AS IT SAW THE COUNTRY PLAYING THE ROLE OF A LIBERATOR