Message from cwatson

[Anonymous]

The small island of the Maldives is a source of contention between China and India. India sees China's establishment of an embassy Male, the capital of the Maldives, as an intrusion into India's regional sovereignty. India is as determined to protect itself from any perceived or manifested challenge to its regional power. Since the Maldives is several miles off the coast of India, Indian officials have no compunction about informing Chinese officials of India's leadership and willingness to protect its interests in the SARC.
The Maldives is said to have a population of 400,000 (?) and many Chinese tourists visit this island in recent years - before it becomes an underwater paradise.
China, on the other hand, wants to protect its borders and establish relationships with non-neighboring countries in the Far east, Southeast Asia in its bid to be the dominant economic and political force in the region.