China-Maldives relations

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.