Crisis in Maldives

Two statements from China with regard to crisis in Maldives:

a) It is an internal matter and there should be no external intervention, and

b) We do not want another Doklam like situation with India.
Should put our concerns at rest with regard to the Chinese intentions in that island nation. Besides, China has also turned down a request from the Maldivian government to land its military boots in Maldives to secure its interests, stating that Maldives can secure itself.

But, parallels are being drawn with Operation Cactus, executed by India in 1988, to liberate Maldives from some mercenaries who were perhaps financed by some Maldivian national. This operation was carried out as per the request of then Maldivian President Gayoom, while in the current scenario is the Maldivian opposition which is requesting for military intervention by India.

Here, it is pertinent to recall the disaster which confronted the IPKF in Sri Lanka, which was originally tasked with ensuring peace between the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE cadres, but soon got engulfed in a situation which it was least prepared for.

Right now, even though we have erroneously refused to entertain the special Maldivian envoy, quoting reasons such as time constraint etc, we need to be in constant touch with the Maldivian Ambassador in New Delhi, and be clear on our expectations from their current President, as well as the options at our disposal should any off those options be required to be availed. Yes, our leadership has done the right thing by taking the US as well as Saudi Arabia on board vis a is Maldives, and as per the newspaper reports we are in touch with the Chinese as well on this issue.

But, it would have been reassuring if the Chinese leadership would have emphasized to the Maldivian President to restore democracy and will of the people, to prevent any civil war kind of scenario. That such as statement is yet to come from the Chinese is a matter of concern, notwithstanding that they themselves are yet to demonstrate their commitment to such principles.

Till then, its wait and watch, and hope that the will of people of Maldives reigns supreme, without having to land even a single foreign soldier and without having to fire even a single bullet