Nasheed: No wish to get ''sandwiched'' in India, China Cold War

Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has stated that the Maldives does not wish to be caught in the middle of a cold war between two powerful countries.

Speaking at the India Economic Summit, Nasheed stated that the Maldives does not want to be caught between China and India while speaking about the Indo-Pacific region. He also stated that the Maldives wanted to move forward with the help of India and criticized that the issue with China was that it wished to “corner the Maldives with debt”.

Nasheed also stated that events of the previous administration of President Yameen such as suspending the Parliament and arresting the Chief Justice were carried out with the backing of China. Nasheed also accused that China spread its ideology and by influencing in such manners that would finally result in the country being ruled on a single party.

The former President and current Speaker of the Parliament went on to say that the opposition parties had appealed for the help of India when the Chief Justice was arrested, and that he received information from sources who were in good positions that due to these events a confrontation had taken place between India and China in some manner.

Nasheed also questioned whether a situation could occur when India and China back opposing parties in elections in Indo-Pacific countries. He further stated that the Maldives wished to stay out of such situations and be on its own rather than get caught in the middle of a cold war between two powerful countries.

“We want to live peacefully. We don’t want to be sandwiched in a cold war between two superpowers. This is a serious issue for the Maldives, other countries in the Indian Ocean.” Said Nasheed.

Nasheed also denounced China’s neglection of Human rights and stated that the issue was not with Chinese culture and its products.

“We do not approve of Chinese attempts to import their ideologies (neglection of human rights) to the Maldives or other countries. That is what we are trying to stop. We are not against sourcing raw materials from China or them selling products in the Maldives. You can sell that, but don’t sell your ideology.” Said Nasheed.

He further questioned whether how long China can remain as a superpower and also stated that a country cannot be run by placing everyone who opposed them in jail. Nasheed then praised India and stated that India will become a different type of superpower because India did things according to the wishes of its people.