Maldives-China Military Pact

Source: Live Mint
GS II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Overview

Why in the News?

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu reportedly announced that the country will not renew an agreement with India to conduct hydrographic surveys.

Maldives plans to acquire the facilities and machines required to do the exercise by itself.
Maldives is working to establish a 24/7 monitoring system for the Maldivian waters this month to ensure control of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) despite its significantly large area.
Maldives Ministry of Defence is making efforts to obtain the facilities required for conducting the hydrographic surveys by the country itself.

This will allow Maldives to conduct the underwater surveys of the country by ourselves.
Efforts to conduct the hydrography survey in collaboration with India’s Hydrography Office were launched in January 2021.
Maldives consider all these underwater details to be the property of our heritage.

Military Presence: India to withdraw its military personnel from Maldives by 2024 May 10. There are 77 Indian soldiers and 12 medical personnel from the Indian armed forces in Maldives.
Health Care: Maldivians will now be able to go to hospitals in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
Agriculture Produce: Announced that agreements to assist the Maldives in expanding agricultural growth to cater to food security were signed with the Chinese government. The President further remarked that the Government would end its dependence on one country for imported staple foods such as rice, sugar, and flour.
Maldives China Defence Agreement: The Chinese government is ready to extend training to the Maldives army and provide non-lethal weaponry under a military grant. First time Maldives signed a deal with China for military cooperation of this level.
India Out Campaign: During the 2023 presidential elections, President Muizzu ran an India Out campaign, signalling a shift in priorities.

Strategic Significance

The Maldives holds a strategically important location in the Indian Ocean.
It is adjacent to one of the densest trading routes globally, with over 80% of energy imports to the Indian subcontinent passing through the shipping lane north of the Maldives.
As a result, both the United States, China, and India closely monitor the Maldives’ perspective and alliances.

Security and Stability

For India, the Maldives serves as a first line of defence against terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, and other maritime crimes.
It is barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles from India’s West Coast.
Ensuring political stability and security in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood is a shared responsibility.

Economic Significance

The Maldives’ economy heavily relies on tourism, which accounts for almost one-third of its GDP.
The country’s robust growth trajectory and rising tourist arrivals contribute to its economic vitality.
However, this dependence on tourism also makes the Maldives vulnerable to macroeconomic and external shocks.

Trade and Investment Hub

With 1,200 coral islands, the Maldives archipelago is located near important maritime channels.
Trade and energy supplies to nations like China, Japan, and India are facilitated by these routes.

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