'Maldives Wants to Rid Itself of 'Excessive Indian Influence’: Chinese Media

Beijing: The Maldives asking India to take back its military helicopters and personnel deployed there reflects the country’s “increasing desire to rid itself of the excessive Indian influence”, Chinese state media has said. A commentary in the Global Times said it was wrong on the part of Indian diplomats and security officials to think that the move by the island nation came at the behest of China, which does not interfere in any country’s internal affairs. The paper said the move also sends a signal to the Quad bloc — consisting of India, Australia, the US, and Japan — in the Indo-Pacific that plans to “contain” China. The revival of the bloc unsettles Beijing.

Last week, the Maldivian ambassador told a media outlet that his country has asked India to take back military helicopters and personnel posted there following the expiry of a pact in June. “New Delhi has long regarded the South Asian island nation as its backyard and sphere of influence, with a strong desire to tighten its grip on the capital city of Male and exclude other countries’ influence,” the paper said. “As an independent sovereign country, the island republic increasingly desires to rid itself of excessive Indian influence and maximize its interests by developing diplomatic ties with all major powers. “The request for the withdrawal of the helicopters and personnel is an embodiment of such a desire and sends an important message to all major powers in the Indo-Pacific region,” according to the article. (IANS)