Maldives-China Defence Pact

Maldives-China Defence Pact

GS-II: International Relations

(UPSC/ State PSCs)

Important for Prelims

Lakshadweep, India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, Operation Cactus, Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), ‘India Out’ Campaign, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), String of the Pearls, Indian Ocean Region (IOR), China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.

Important for Mains

Significance of India-Maldives Relationship, Key Issues/challenges in the India-Maldives Relationship, Way Forward, Conclusion.

08/03/2024

Why in news:

  • Recently, Maldives has signed a defense agreement with China to acquire non-lethal weapons and training.

Key facts related to the agreement:

  • The agreement includes the “China-Maldives Friendship Bridge” and several social housing projects, a major developmental initiative from China to the Maldives.
  • The agreement is in line with the agreement agreed by both countries during Mr Muizzu's five-day state visit to China in January 2024 to "upgrade" China-Maldives relations to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership".

Impact of this defence agreement on India:

Strengthening relations between China and Maldives:

  • The recent military assistance agreement reflects the significant deepening of military relations between Maldives and China.

Increasing Chinese influence:

  • From India's perspective, this shift in defense ties is a matter of concern as it will help China increase its influence in the Indian Ocean region.

Impact on regional security:

  • Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, is an important sea route for India.
  • Any improvements in Maldives' defense capabilities, even if they are non-lethal, could impact regional security dynamics.

India-Maldives relations:

  • India and Maldives share long-standing historical and cultural ties. After the British relinquished control of the islands in 1965, India established diplomatic relations. Maldives recognizes Minicoy as an integral part of India under the 1976 Maritime Boundary Treaty.
  • However, currently, Maldives' decision to withdraw Indian personnel and sign defense agreement with China is indicative of Maldives' increasingly uncooperative and hostile relations with India.

Why the India- Maldives Relationship is important:

Strategic Importance:

  • Maldives is the focus of the Government of India's priorities under India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy'.
  • The Maldives' proximity to India's west coast and its position at the center of commercial sea routes running through the Indian Ocean add to its vital strategic importance for India.
  • India's prompt response and immediate assistance during the 1988 coup attempt laid the foundation for the development of trust and lasting, friendly bilateral relations with the Maldives. The Indian Armed Forces took immediate action and carried out Operation Cactus.
  • India was the first country to assist Maldives during the 2004 tsunami as well as the water crisis in Male in December 2014.
  • The rapid dispatch of 30,000 doses of measles vaccine by India in January 2020 to contain the measles outbreak in the Maldives, and India's extensive assistance to the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The importance of India's strategic role in the Maldives is well recognized, with India seen as a net security provider.
  • A Comprehensive Action Plan for Defense was signed in April 2016 to strengthen defense partnership.
  • Both countries are key players in maintaining the safety and security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), thus contributing to the India-led Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) approach.
  • Defense cooperation extends to the areas of joint exercises – “Ekuvarin”, “Dosti”, “Ekatha” and “Operation Shield”.

Economic and Trade Engagements:

Tourism Economy:

  • India is one of the largest sources of tourists to the Maldives, which relies heavily on tourism to drive its economy.
  • According to recent data released by Maldives Tourism Ministry, India was the largest tourist market for Maldives in 2023. It is followed by Russia (2,09,146 arrivals), and China (1,87,118 arrivals).
  • In 2023, India topped in sending the highest number of tourists (2,09,198) to Maldives with about 11.8% market share.

Economic-Trade:

  • India emerged as Maldives' second largest trading partner in 2022. Bilateral trade crossed the US$300 million mark for the first time in 2021.
  • On 22 July 2019, a bilateral USD currency swap agreement was signed between the RBI and the Maldives Monetary Authority.
  • Indian imports from Maldives mainly consist of scrap metals, while Indian exports to Maldives include a variety of engineering and industrial products such as drugs and pharmaceuticals, cement and agricultural products.

Development and Capacity Building:

  • In August 2021, Afcons, an Indian company, signed a contract for the largest infrastructure project to date in the Maldives, the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP).
  • The Hanimadhu International Airport Development Project under the Indian Line of Credit will add a new terminal to serve 1.3 million passengers per year.
  • In 2022, the National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE) was inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister of India.

Healthcare Sector:

  • In the healthcare sector, India has provided Rs 52 crore for the development of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, apart from helping set up a state-of-the-art cancer facility, which will connect over 150 health centers on different islands.

Educational program:

  • In the field of education, India helped establish the Institute of Technical Education in 1996. India has also launched a program to provide training and vocational training to Maldivian teachers and youth in a US$5.3 million project.
  • India provides the largest number of training opportunities to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), meeting about 70% of their defense training requirements.

Cultural Connectivity:

  • India and the Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious ties dating back to ancient times. According to anthropologists, Dhivehi (Maldivian language) has its origins in Sanskrit and Pali.
  • The Indian expatriate community in Maldives numbers around 27,000. Most of the expatriate teachers in Maldives are Indian citizens.

key issues/challenges in India - Maldives Relationship:

Hydrography Agreement:

  • Recently, the Maldives Cabinet decided not to renew a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India for cooperation in hydrography.
  • The agreement, which was signed in 2019, is set to expire in 2024.

India Out Campaign:

  • The campaign accused India of violating the sovereignty of the Maldives by allowing Indian military presence on the islands.
  • The government issued a presidential order banning "campaigns inciting hatred against different countries under various slogans" as well as specifically mentioning the India-Out protests.

Criminality, Fundamentalism and Extremism:

  • Four groups of factors influence such behavior which include structural factors such as poverty and poor governance, convenience factors such as news channels and social network platforms, individual factors such as socio-economic status and trigger factors.
  • The presence of high unemployment and poverty along with the politicization of the news media is increasing the susceptibility of Maldivian citizens to extremism, driving many towards terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

Political uncertainty:

  • Muizzu focused on the Indian Army stationed on an island and described it as a threat to the sovereignty of the Maldives. With Muizzu coming to power, India will have to navigate a difficult diplomatic balancing act with the Maldivian government.

Climate change:

  • As low-lying island nations, both India and the Maldives are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and marine heat waves.

China Factor in India-Maldives Relations:

  • India's concerns have increased due to the recent 20 agreements signed between Maldives and China.
  • During President Muizzu's visit, the two countries signed a $50 million project aimed at developing an integrated tourism sector in the Indian Ocean island.
  • Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu urged China to "intensify" efforts to send more tourists to the Maldives.
  • Maldives has emerged as an important 'pearl' in China's "String of Pearls" construction in South Asia.
  • Maldives has large-scale Chinese investments and has become a partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
  • India-Maldives relations suffered a setback when Maldives signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with China in 2017.
  • There is speculation about Chinese plans to develop a naval base in the Maldives, with previous proposals indicating concerns about potential military applications.

Way forward to improve relations

  • To maintain its presence in Maldives, India will have to complete its existing projects (such as Greater Male Connectivity Project-GMCP).
  • Maldives has a high rate of youth unemployment. India's HICP in Maldives should include projects that aim to improve employability and promote entrepreneurship among the youth.
  • To counter China's influence, India should offer credible and attractive alternatives to Chinese projects in the Maldives.
  • India should restore strong defense ties with Maldives to deal with terrorism and other issues.
  • The ability to engage constructively with the ruling government and align foreign policy goals with domestic priorities will require the efficient conduct of internal politics while balancing competing interests.

Conclusion:

  • India-Maldives relations have a long and friendly history, but internal current challenges such as the "India Out" campaign, China's greater involvement, political uncertainty and climate change have strained relations between the two countries. India should focus on building a stronger and more flexible partnership to address regional and global issues related to Maldives.

Source: The Hindu, Indian Express

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Mains Question

Write the way forward to resolve various issues and challenges in India-Maldives bilateral relations.

Discuss the significance of India-Maldives relations.