Muizzu is the first Maldivian President to go to China instead of India on his first overseas visit. What does this mean for China-Maldives ties, and for India? How have Chinese media and scholars reacted to the developments?
India News: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has set a deadline of March 15 for withdrawal of Indian military personnel - who operate two Indian naval choppers a
China’s Indian Ocean footprint was visibly enhanced with the elevation of its ties with the diminutive Maldives to that of a 'strategic partnership' during the five-day (8-12 January) state visit of the newly elected President Muizzu to Beijing.
Returning home from a trip to Beijing, Muizzu said the Maldives was not in any country’s backyard and China respects the archipelago’s territorial integrity.