The Maldives and China have entered a defence deal wherein China is offering military assistance to the former at no cost, to strengthen bilateral ties.
This agreement follows Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s recent deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Bharatiya military personnel from the country as per reports. Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon met with Major General Zhang Baoqun of China’s Office for International Military Cooperation and discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries. The details of the agreement haven’t been disclosed.
The visit of the Chinese military delegation comes after the Maldives allowed the hi-tech Chinese research ship Xiang Yang Hong 03 to make a port call for personnel rotation and replenishment. The Maldives has confirmed that its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the country to replace Indian military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter.
President Muizzu, has set 10 March as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel. Going headstrong into his anti-Bharat stance, Muizzu on Tuesday said that no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, would be present inside his country after May 10.
Bharat will replace all its military personnel in two phases by 10 May, according to the Maldivian foreign ministry.
The Maldives will be overhauling its more than 100 bilateral agreements which it signed with Bharat during previous governments, and its strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region which adds to its significance.
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