China and the Maldives have signed a military assistance agreement allowing Beijing to increase its presence on the strategic island nation.
On March 4, the Maldivian Ministry of Defence announced on X, formerly Twitter, the signing of the "agreement on China's provision of military assistance gratis" to the Republic of Maldives, "fostering stronger bilateral ties."
While the specifics of the assistance remain undisclosed, the ministry highlighted that the aid would be provided gratis.
China's Major General Zhang Baoqun, deputy director of the Office for International Military Cooperation, was present during the signing of the agreement, Maldives' Ministry of Defence said.
The Maldives, a renowned tourist destination known for its pristine beaches and azure lagoons, occupies a strategic position in the Indian Ocean, straddling vital maritime routes.
The nation's shift towards Beijing comes at a time when the Indian Ocean's geopolitical significance is increasingly recognized. India historically considers the region to be part of its sphere of influence due to its geographic proximity and shared historical ties.
The U.S. opened its first diplomatic mission in the Maldivian capital, Malé, in 2023.
Aditya Gowdara Shivamurthy, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation think tank in New Delhi, told Newsweek the pact's undisclosed details will exacerbate India's concerns.
"The defense pact is being seen as an escalation by New Delhi. The undisclosed details of the pact only exacerbates this scepticism. The president had said that this pact will help Maldives soldiers with training and other hardwares. However, China has been training MNDF personnel in China, so it is to see if Chinese troops will now come to the Maldives as a part of this pact," Shivamurthy told Newsweek.
This revelation comes as a clear indication of the archipelago nation's pivot towards Beijing following the election of President Mohamed Muizzu last year.
President Muizzu's administration has actively pursued closer economic and diplomatic relations with China, culminating in a state visit to Beijing in January, where he and President Xi Jinping signed 20 agreements, symbolizing a pivotal shift in the Indian Ocean's geopolitical landscape.
This strategic shift aligns with President Muizzu's post-election endeavors to strengthen ties with China, echoing his campaign's "India Out" stance, which promised the removal of Indian military presence from the Maldives and aimed to reclaim what he termed as "lost" national sovereignty.
Newsweek contacted the Maldives' Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comments. Newsweek also contacted China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comments.
"Finally, by allowing China to have defense cooperation with the Maldives, Muizzu will want to reap some benefits from Beijing. This is most likely to be in debt restructuring, development assistance, and attracting new investments," Shivamurthy told Newsweek.
The presence of Indian military personnel in the Maldives, including 77 soldiers and 12 medical staff, along with the provision of two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft for maritime surveillance and rescue operations, underscores the longstanding close ties between New Delhi and Malé.
Since assuming office in November, Muizzu has been vocal about his intentions, setting a deadline for the complete withdrawal of Indian military personnel by March 15, as per the president's office. An update last month indicated a phased troop withdrawal, with the initial departure slated before March 10 and the complete exit by May 10, the Indian newspaper The Hindustan Times reported on March 5.
India has now begun replacing the military personnel with a civilian assistance team before the deadline, The Hindustan Times reported.
But Muizzu has now said that even India's civilian personnel should be removed by May 10, further signaling Maldives' pivot away from New Delhi.
However, the new defense agreement with China may mark a departure from the policies of Muizzu's pro-India predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and signals a realignment of the Maldives' foreign policy.
The recent developments include the visit of a Chinese military delegation to the Maldives and the docking of the Xiang Yang Hong 03, a Chinese research ship, in Malé for crew rotation and resupply, Newsweek had reported earlier.
This vessel, linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and implicated in dual-use maritime research and submarine warfare capabilities, has sparked regional controversy and concern among Western observers.
China, however, maintains that the ship's activities are purely scientific and aimed at contributing to global oceanographic knowledge, asserting compliance with international law.
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About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
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