News Corp Australia Network is reporting that a small Chinese navy task force entered the Indian Ocean last week. China’s CCTV7 has also broadcast images of the Chinese ships sailing in the eastern Indian Ocean.
Though it’s not the first time that the People’s Liberation Army Navy has operated in these waters, the Australian report says the deployment is designed to send a message to India and the US to stay out of an unfolding political crisis in Maldives.
“A naval force of at least one modern destroyer, a frigate, an amphibious assault ship and a support tanker entered the Indian Ocean last week,” said the News Corp report, which speculated that the flotilla would “linger” in the area.
In related news, the Maldivian parliament on Tuesday extended an existing state of emergency by 30 days, as protests in the capital Malé and international tensions over the crisis continued to mount.
Ongoing political crisis
Maldivan President Abdulla Yameen declared a 15-day state of emergency on February 5 after his refusal to comply with a Supreme Court decision to free political opposition leaders. The showdown escalated after Supreme Court judges and other political opponents were arrested.
Yameen has forged close ties with China and courted investments from Beijing. New Delhi and Washington are displeased with Yameen’s pro-China stance, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly mulling sending troops to Maldives to intervene in the crisis.
Maldivian opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed recently charged that China was “buying up the Maldives” through its ties to Yameen. Nasheed, who is in exile in Sri Lanka, called attention to the sizable debts that Maldives has run up with Beijing. He alleged that China might be tempted to seize public assets such as ports in return.
China will ‘take action’
China’s state-run tabloid Global Times warned in an op-ed on February 13 that Beijing would “take action” if New Delhi unilaterally decided to send troops to the crisis-hit Maldives.
“Without UN empowerment, there would be no righteous cause for any armed force to intervene. China will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Maldives, but that does not mean that Beijing will sit idly by as New Delhi breaks the principle. If India one-sidedly sends troops to the Maldives, China will take action to stop New Delhi,” the daily said in the op-ed.
The picturesque chain of islands in the Indian Ocean is assuming growing strategic importance, along with Sri Lanka, due to its proximity to critical oil shipping lanes to Asia. China is reportedly keen on using Maldives as a base for its warships. The US and India are also said to be interested in building similar bases in the region to counter China.
it takes weeks for Chinese force to sail there from China and this is just a training exercise planned months before the current Maldives crisis.
This article is just another anti China propaganda article.
Somebody should address the US’ habit of interfering with other country’s affairs if things there runs counter to its interests. Other countries may follow suit and think they could set aside internatiinal rules and order.
Peace, between North and South Korea is the US’ greatest fear.Would Never allow it.
send in the 7th fleet to the maldives to counter any Chinese moves. we got the vinson close to the aor, plus pull the amphibous ready group from cobra gold that will send a much clearer message to the Chinese.
Chinese propaganda channel! Nice read!
India must sent. It’s assets to maldive
They would "linger" in the area? Are they lost? Well, should they need help the Indian navy is nearby to assist.
These eyelid people …are a trheat in the world after grabbing South China from the Philippines now they are looking for another place to grab ….
now US ,India and Japan can sent their navy to protect taiwan ,Good
China’s naval ships might be on a fishing expedition.
China must sink whole Indian navy,its very necessary
Why don’t you come by yourself to prevent the Chinese? That’s will be much more effective IMHO
Typical warmonger american. Youll lost your ball if the crisis happen at or nearby your soil. Without sophisticated artilery, US troops are just another coward faggot in military uniform.
Intervene International affairs always US privileges