China-Maldives relations

Amid an intensifying competition for influence, the Maldives’ mounting debt is the most central issue in its relations with both India and China. 

Daniel Bosley discusses China-India competition and domestic politics in the Maldives, and Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan puts that in the context of broader IOR dynamics.

To counter China’s advances, it is important to avoid creating a power vacuum.

India has kept a close watch on China’s activities and responded strongly where its security was directly affected.

Is India really “out” and China “in” for the Maldives? And what does this case tell us about the emerging approach of smaller states in great power competition?

He can be expected to adopt a more independent, balanced and diversified foreign policy rather than a pro-China one.

Local political maneuvering and pressing domestic issues – not geopolitics – drove most Maldivians’ voting decisions.

While Muizzu's victory could see a tilt toward China in the archipelago’s foreign policy, India and its Quad partners will cheer President Solih’s re-election.

A recent visit by India’s defense minister was just the latest in a surge of outreach toward Maldives as its election nears.

The Maldives has remained one of India’s key maritime partners in the Indian Ocean neighborhood.

As Maldives looks to parliamentary and presidential elections in September 2023, the China-India choice maps neatly on to domestic political divides.

Both China and India have a stake in the drama surrounding the Maldives' upcoming presidential election.

Beijing and New Delhi's jostling for influence in Maldives cannot be separated from the island nation's domestic political wrangling.

Wang Yi’s visits to the Maldives and Sri Lanka signal Beijing’s priorities fairly clearly: it's focusing on South Asia and the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives has begun to realize a mutually beneficial relationship with India, and the Solih government means to maintain it despite a growing rhetoric stirring anti-India sentiments.

The Chinese envoy rejected the characterization of a 2017 free trade agreement between Male and Beijing by the incumbent speaker of the house and former president.

With a change of leadership in Male, the Maldives have turned back to India.

From reframing ties with China to advancing Maldivian democracy, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has a hard road ahead.

The state of emergency comes amid a high stakes game of regional rivalry.

Recent history suggests Indian intervention would carry steep consequences.

Doing nothing is not an option, but there are few good choices for India.

China's Foreign Ministry warns the world not to “complicate the situation” by interfering in the unfolding crisis.

With a new FTA, China cements its influence in Maldives, much to India's dismay.

In both Maldives and Sri Lanka, China has been chipping away at Indian influence.