DR.MOHAMMAD MUIZZU’S MALDIVES

INDIA-MALDIVES-CHINA TRIANGLE

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

Probably, Dr. Mohammad Muizzu shot at his own foot, and may ruin MALDIVES, before Nature take its claim. As it is—the Islands  are sinking, and by 2050, major part of all the islands will be under water during high tide.

 Dr. Mohammad Muizzu’s total election campaign revolved, and organized around opposition’s “India Out” policy. He did benefit from the polarization but will now face a lot of backlashes. He may even loose his political career.

Maldives’ Plan & International reactions

To play the China card against India. Muizzu has already started playing that card.

Turkey is also a minor alley of Maldives in this game. But, it has minimal power to harm India.

Pakistan is unsure about it’s role in this game. Making confusing statements.

USA strongly supported INDIA, and stated that MALDIVES has become a habitat of TERRORISTS.

Maldives knows that control over the Indian Ocean is main of the three biggest geo-political assets India has. India has Andaman and Nicobar Islands which are perfect for stationing the forces as well as maintaining proximity to the Malacca Strait, which can HIT China’s Oil Imports, mainly—and other business through SEA ROUTES to West Asia, and Africa. In a hypothetical situation, where India and China start a war, India will definitely choke China by blocking the Malacca Strait. What China would need in such a situation will be some staging grounds from where it can launch attacks on Indian naval forces.

China doesn’t have many useful alleys among the Southeast Asian countries (due to its land-grabbing policy of foreign nations), so Maldives comes into the picture. Maldives is small enough to be bossed, polarized enough to be swayed and as it appears now,  stupid enough to be “used” by China. Moreover, Muizzu may be purchased by China. After selling Maldives to China—he and his family may retire at a safe HAVEN.

China aims to surround the Indian Ocean following its infamous String of Pearls strategy (SEE IMAGE ATTACHED) and what Maldives doesn’t understand is that it is becoming just another purchased “pearl” in that string. The Chinese care about the string and not the pearls.  Sri Lanka may have understood this, by this time, and rejected docking of Chinese Research Vessel. China will now dock that at Maldives.

India’s counter Plan

India’s well aware of Chinese plans and ambitions in the Indian Ocean and thus has taken forums like ASEAN very seriously. Countries like Philippines, Japan, South Korea etc. are already sick of China’s activities in the South China Sea and have multiple agreements with India including Maritime Exercises. So, China won’t get much help from there.

Maldives seems to be the obvious option for China, given that their investments in Pakistan wouldn’t reap much harvest, and may be wasted--  (CPEC), given the gloomy economic conditions, and political instability there. Iran has added fire to that, recently.

India knows Maldives’ economy is dependent on Tourism and given that the majority of the tourists they receive are from India, and negating this TOURISM, India can shake the very foundations of Maldives’s economy. However, Indian tourists will not be much affected. We have better alternatives.

It’s not a coincidence that PM Modi was recently seen promoting Lakshadweep Islands. It didn’t take even a day before the 3 Ministers from Muizzu’s government got suspended for making racist remarks against Indians, understanding the ulterior motives of the Indian Government.

Rs. 1100 crore have already been sanctioned for the infrastructure development of Lakshadweep Islands and the Maldivians are in trouble.

Indian Tourism Industry, Indian Businessmen, Indian Industry,  and Bollywood—all are in a mood to BOYCOTT Maldives. Steps are already taken by them accordingly.

Stopping Food export to Maldives is another shot in the arm of India, which will press Muizzu’s Jugular Vein. Already Eggs are diverted to Russia, and supply of Potato is stopped.

The credit line that Maldives enjoyed from India, is withdrawn. Indian investment will get dried up.

China can provide CREDIT LINE, but it will be a long supply chain problem for  supplying essential commodities from China, and there is no nearby market available to buy for Maldives.

Med-Evac is another problem, which already cost a life. Visa will be a problem for the islanders to get medical treatment in INDIA in emergency.

All in all—Maldives is in a JAM.

 

© Sarasij Majumder

Source of data, and information:- TOI, HT

Images:- Internet/ Google

Analysis, opinion, and conclusion:-- By Blogger