Returning home after a five-day high-profile state visit to China, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday struck a defiant note saying that his country may be small but "doesn t give them the license to bully us". His comments came amid a diplomatic row with India over derogatory social media posts by three of his ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss increasing Chinese tourists numbers and implementing various projects committed by Beijing. After signing 20 agreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Muizzu focused on enhancing cooperation in e-commerce, Male s development plan, airport expansion, and tourism. Facing a diplomatic row with India due to derogatory remarks by his ministers, Muizzu urged China to boost tourism amid reported cancellations by Indian tourists. Chinese analysts see the Maldives as strategically important for expanding China s influence in the Indian Ocean, emphasizing the country s geopolitical significance
Muizzu s maiden visit to China, however, has been marred by a huge diplomatic row triggered by the derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by some Maldivian ministers after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach during his visit to Lakshadweep.