‘China Has Grabbed More Land Than East India Company’: Maldives Ex-President Criticises China’s Debt Trap Diplomacy

Former president of Maldives Mohammad Nasheed has criticised China in strong words for its ‘debt-trap diplomacy’.

“In last few years without a single shot being fired, China has grabbed more land than the East India company had ever done. If I were to take this contract to commercial arbitration, it will be same as somebody in Kolkata taking East India company to arbitration,” Nasheed was quoted as saying by ANI.

The former president of the island nation said that Maldives wants foreign investment, and also “Chinese investment for that matter”, but it must go through transparent tendering processes.

“It must have democratic oversight and we must be able to benefit from investment. It can’t be vanity projects,” Nasheed added.

A day before, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar arrived in the island nation to attend the 4th edition of Indian Ocean Conference. Jaishankar and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid discussed ongoing cooperation in various fields and ways to further strengthen the bilateral ties.