Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu embarked on his inaugural bilateral visit to China on Sunday night, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed. This visit signifies the commencement of a state visit, as President Muizzu was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is worth noting that this visit takes place amidst a diplomatic dispute with India, which is not only the Maldives’ closest neighbor but also a significant contributor to its tourism industry.
President Muizzu, who gained prominence through his ‘Out India’ campaign, took action against three deputy ministers, namely Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid. These individuals were suspended due to derogatory remarks made on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promotion of India’s Lakshadweep archipelago as a tourist destination.
Some individuals perceive President Muizzu’s visit to China as an attempt to divert tourists from the globally renowned Maldives, which boasts 1,192 islands adorned with luxurious resorts in the Indian Ocean.
In response to the controversial social media posts, the Maldives Foreign Ministry stated, “The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives.”
The ongoing dispute has garnered significant attention, with Indian figures such as actor Akshay Kumar and cricketer Hardik Pandya expressing their disappointment over the comments made by the now-suspended Maldivian officials. In an effort to promote domestic tourism, other prominent Indians, including former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and actor Salman Khan, have encouraged people to explore their own islands rather than travel abroad.
The hashtag #ExploreIndianIslands has become the second most popular trend on X in India, with some Indians sharing screenshots of canceled bookings for Maldivian vacations.
Over the past ten years, India and China have been vying for dominance in the Maldives, as the island nation aligns itself with China’s ambitious “Belt and Road” initiative.