It is not surprising that India has always considered itself a regional power and is eager to become a leader in South Asia. However, a recent incident really provoked India. One of India's allies, the Maldives, has provoked anger within India over its choice of China, and they intend to give the country a little color. The Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, an archipelago that is not very close to India, so India considers it its own territory. To a certain extent, the Maldives** has recognized India's status as a "leader". Muiz, the new Maldivian officer, did not immediately travel to India, but to Turkey, then to the United Arab Emirates, and now to Xiamen, where he began his state visit to China. According to recent news reports, Muiz praised China as "a key ally and an indispensable partner" for island nations in the Indian Ocean. This move has caused many Indians to be dissatisfied.
For India, Muiz has been actively looking for a partnership with China, which has made him even more annoyed. India has largely maintained a tight defense of other areas in South Asia where it cooperates with China. Whether it's the border between Bhutan and China, the port between Sri Lanka and China, or the economic and trade cooperation between Bangladesh and China, a new diplomatic model has recently emerged between the Maldives and China, all of which are inseparable from India's attempts to create trouble. In addition, Mouiz also proposed the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives, which India cannot tolerate. India has troops in the Maldives, but only 100 soldiers, mainly for tasks such as maritime patrols and repairs. Muiz's insistence that India withdraw its troops is bound to be embarrassing to India, and in some ways it is tantamount to pulling some of India's influence away from the country. After waiting for more than a month, India finally agreed, and Moiz, the Maldives, asked India to withdraw from the Indian side in Malaysia.
This process suggests that India is not actually willing to withdraw, perhaps to delay some time. However, in the face of the Maldives' resolute attitude, India has no way to change the status quo. To add insult to India's embarrassment, the Maldives made another move earlier this month. Muiz told India that if India did not withdraw from the country, it would be seen as ignoring the democratic will of the Maldives and jeopardizing the country's democratic future. For India, which claims to be "the world's largest democracy", it is a shame to use "democracy" to put pressure on them. While India has made concessions, recent events have left many Indians uneasy. Three Maldivian leaders have lashed out at Modi on social media, calling India's leaders "Israeli puppets," "clowns," and even "cow dung." According to some sources, this is because of a visit by Modi to the Lakshadweep Islands in India. Some analysts say Mr. Modi wants to promote it privately to help attract more tourists to the Lakshadweep Islands and the Maldives.
It is unclear exactly what Modi thinks of the Maldives. There is no doubt that the remarks of the three deputy foreign ministers from the Maldives did provoke outrage. Within India, everyone has expressed strong dissatisfaction with this. Many Indian internet users say they don't consider the Maldives their destination, and some Indian travel agencies have cancelled bookings to the Maldives. India's top leaders in Malaysia also expressed their "grave concern", saying: "This is our responsibility. From this fact, there is really no reason for the Maldives, maybe what they think in their hearts is understandable, but what they say is completely different. Maldives*** explained this, saying that what the above three people said was their own opinion. The Government of Maldives** has stated that it will suspend the above-mentioned personnel. The public apology of the Maldives** has made many Indians complacent, and "India Today" even described India as a "big victory".
However, the Times of India recently published an article titled "Can the Maldives Withstand a Boycott from Indian Tourists?" India has been slamming the Maldives. Who Am I? 》。Tourism in the Maldives is an important part of the country's economy**, contributing more than 90% of the country's fiscal revenue, which comes from taxes on tourism. With 11% of expatriate travellers from India, the Maldives plays a big role in the country's economy and is seen as a pillar of the country. Recently, an Indian chamber of commerce called for a boycott of the Maldives, signaling India's intention to put pressure on the country. India is not only going to join forces, but also to promote its Lakshadweep archipelago, claiming that its waters, skies and fine sand are no worse than those of the Maldives. In order to compete with the Maldives in a close race in the Lakshadweep archipelago, India** is likely to increase its investment in the region.
The recent spate of disputes between the Maldives and India shows that India's influence on the country, and indeed on the region, is decreasing. It has proved that the conventional tactics used by India in the past are no longer effective. If India itself is not able to accurately determine its position, the same problem will be exacerbated.