Maldives set to ditch 'one-sided' China trade deal
The Maldives is likely to withdraw from a free trade agreement with China and align itself more closely with India and the West under its new government, according to reports on Tuesday.
The 1,000 page deal was passed under former President Abdulla Yameen in December 2017, with opposition politicians complaining that it had been ratified by his parliament without any debate.
But newly elected Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who won the presidency in a September election and took office just days ago, said that the country’s treasury had endured "a colossal blow owing to reckless mega development projects undertaken purely for political gain."
Though China is not mentioned directly, Solih appeared to be condemning Beijing’s projects in the country.
The Maldives is one of a number of nations that has received billions of dollars of investment in infrastructure projects from China through President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative, which aims to promote trade and Chinese development.
The island nation’s former president Mohamed Nasheed was even more brazen, as he told the BBC that the free trade agreement was "very one-sided" and added that "the numbers don't match," and separately told Reuters that the deal’s imbalance is "so huge that nobody would think of a free trade agreement between such parties".
Nasheed, who was barred from running in September’s elections, is currently serving as an adviser to President Solih.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said that Beijing believes the new Maldivian government will make the "correct choice" to continue with the free trade deal and said the deal was "mutually beneficial".
Other indications that Solih is opting for a friendship with suitors other than Beijing include an announcement that the nation intends to return to the Commonwealth and the President’s planned state visit to India next month.
Indeed, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the guests present at President Solih’s swearing-in ceremony at the weekend.