Chinese spy ship went to Maldives twice, still Muizhu government says – we did not allow research

New Delhi: China’s hardline attitude towards the Maldives is now beginning to change. The Mohammad Muizhu government is now not only urging Indians to be ‘part’ of its tourism, but has so far said it has not allowed the Chinese ‘spy’ ship to conduct research in its waters. Stating that the peace and security of the Indian Ocean is important for neighboring countries including India, Maldives Foreign Minister Musa Zamir said on Thursday that his government had not given permission to a Chinese ship to conduct research in Maldivian waters. The statement by the Maldivian foreign minister comes at a time when China’s marine research vessel (which is seen as a spy ship) Jiang Yang Hong 3 has again arrived in the Maldives. This is the second time in the past two months that a Chinese spy ship has reached the Maldives.

Maldives Foreign Minister Musa Zamir, who is on a visit to India, said, ‘Peace and security in the Indian Ocean is important for our neighbors India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and other countries. So, as I said before, we will continue to work together. Elaborating on the Chinese ship’s visit to Maldives, he said that our government has issued individual rotation and friendly portable permits and received diplomatic clearance from the Chinese side, which is very common in Maldives.

‘Ship research not allowed’
He further said, ‘So it is that we as a peaceful country welcome ships that come for peaceful purposes. But they did not come to Maldivian waters for research, we did not allow Chinese vessels to research in Maldivian waters. Maldivian Foreign Minister Musa Zamir said that research vessels are not welcome in Maldivian waters.

The Chinese ship left for the second time on April 27
In fact, amid the standoff with India, on April 27, the Chinese research vessel Jiang Yang Hong 3 returned to Maldivian waters. This is the second time a Chinese spy ship has arrived in the Maldives after the formation of the Muijju government in the Maldives. It was the second visit by a Chinese spy ship in two months after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizhu, who is pro-Chinese, and the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) won parliamentary elections. It is worth noting that Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon told the Maldivian Parliament last month that the Chinese ship would not conduct any research despite being in and near Maldivian waters. Relations between India and the Maldives have been strained since President Muijju took office in November.