China against UN intervention in the Maldives
China has already opposed any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the Maldives after former president Mohamed Nasheed called on India to use its military to end the turmoil.
China indicated on Thursday that it is against any intervention by the UN in the political crisis in the Maldives, reiterating that the turmoil was the country’s internal affair.
The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the crisis in the Maldives, which boiled over when President Abdulla Yameen imposed emergency on Monday, during a closed-door meeting. The UN has also urged President Abdulla Yameen to end a state of emergency.
“China has followed closely the situation in the Maldives. China thinks that the current situation and dispute in the Maldives are its internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.
“It should be properly resolved through dialogue and consultation by relevant parties. The international community should respect the Maldives’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and play a constructive role for the dialogue between the relevant parties,” he said.
“China is willing to maintain close communication with relevant parties on the situation in the Maldives so as to restore the normal order as soon as possible,” Geng responded when he was asked if China will support mediation by the UN.
China - a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council - has already opposed any foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the Maldives after former president Mohamed Nasheed called on India to use its military to end the turmoil in the island nation.
Nasheed, who is in self-exile following his ouster in 2012, has accused China of grabbing land and backing Yameen.
China had offered assistance to the Maldives when Nasheed was president, Geng said, adding pragmatic cooperation had achieved a lot of outcomes.
“I don't know whether Nasheed will regard such kind of cooperation as grabbing. China has not attached political strings to political cooperation with the Maldives. China will never endanger the independence of the Maldives. China's friendly cooperation is for all the people in the Maldives and it will serve the interests of the two countries.”
On Wednesday, Yameen sent envoys to the “friendly nations” of China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to lobby for support.
The trouble began last week after Yameen declined to implement a Supreme Court order clearing Nasheed of terror charges and freeing eight imprisoned political leaders. He later detained two top judges, including the Chief Justice, and imposed a 15-day emergency.