China opposes any Indian intervention in Maldives

BEIJING, Feb 7: China on Wednesday opposed any military intervention in the Maldives, saying such a move would further complicate the situation, reports PTI.

On Tuesday, former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed had sought India's help to resolve the political crisis in the island nation.

The picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago plunged into a political chaos last week when the country's Supreme Court ordered the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, maintaining that their trials were "politically motivated and flawed".

When asked to comment on Nasheed's call to India, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "The international community should play a constructive role on the basis of respecting the Maldives sovereignty instead of taking measures that could complicate the current situation."

Nasheed, who is currently in exile in Sri Lanka, had on Tuesday tweeted that India should send an envoy, backed by its military, to release judges and leaders of political parties detained by President Abdulla Yameen.

Asked how the situation could resolved internally when Yameen has arrested the Supreme Court judges as well as former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Geng said China's stand is that relevant parties should find a solution internally.

"I made myself clear. We hope relevant parties in the Maldives can properly resolve the issue through consultation and restore national stability and social order as soon as possible. We believe they (have) wisdom and capability to address the situation independently," he said without mentioning India.