India should realize that the Maldives is not ‘taking sides,’ it’s choosing independence

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

According to reports, the People’s National Congress party led by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu won a landslide victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, securing 71 out of 93 seats. However, the result has made India feel nervous about the Maldives tilting away from it. Chinese analysts point out that the result of the Maldivian parliamentary elections reflects the will of the people. They assert that the Maldivian people are not choosing to lean toward China but rather they are supporting the government’s…