China today called for resolution of political crisis in Maldives through dialogue without external intervention as the embattled President Abdulla Yameen, who is closely allied with Beijing, declared a state of emergency to stay in power amid rising tide of opposition.
Weighing its options in the fast deteriorating crisis in the Maldives, China asked political parties in Maldives to find a solution without external intervention as UN, the US and India stepped pressure on Yameen to implement the Supreme Court ruling of setting the detained opposition leaders free.
Observers say China faced a similar situation in Sri Lanka when its close ally and the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in 2015 elections creating crisis situation for Chinese strategic investments.
However, in a move that could hurt Yameen, China upgraded its travel alert asking its citizens to cancel their plans to visit Maldives in view of emergency despite assurances from officials in Male that security will be provided to tourists.
Tourism is biggest industry in the Maldives. It accounts for around a fifth of the GDP and generates billions of dollars every year in revenue. In 2016, the sector was worth almost USD nine billion.
"In the light of the latest situation in Maldives Chinese Foreign Ministry adjusted the security alert level and asked the Chinese citizens to closely follow the local situation and not to travel to Maldives," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here.
"If they have plans to go to Maldives we advise them to cancel it. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the security of the Chinese citizens including the outbound tourists," he said.
Almost 1.4 million people visited the Indian Ocean archipelago last year. China is the number-one source of tourists for the Maldives. Chinese tourists constitute about 30 per cent of the Maldives tourist arrivals.
The Spring Festival holiday, which includes Chinese New Year celebrations, is peak season for Chinese citizens to travel to the Maldives for tourism. China's stand could lead to massive cancellations in Maldives high end tourists resorts.
But at the same Geng was ambivalent on taking a stand against Yameen who during his visit here in December signed a number of deals permitting Chinese investments and inked much criticised Free Trade Agreement, raising hackles in India.
"China has always closely followed situation in Maldives. We hope the relevant parties can properly resolve the differences through dialogue and consultation and restore the normal order as soon as possible and maintain national and social stability," Geng said.
Without directly commenting on the UN, the US and Indias criticism of the handling of situation by Yameen, Geng said China believes that the Maldives government, political parties and people have the wisdom and the capability to deal with their current situation on their own.
India yesterday expressed concern over the political turmoil in Maldives and asked its nationals not to undertake non-essential travels to the country until further notice.
The Maldives, however, today sought to reassure tourists that they would be safe.
Government spokesman Ibrahim Hussain Shihab said no curfew had been declared and the safety of tourists in the upmarket holiday paradise was assured.
The government would "facilitate calm at a time of national difficulty", he added.
The picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago was plunged into chaos on Thursday when the Supreme Court called for the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, ruling that their trials were politically motivated and flawed.
The government refused to implement the ruling, prompting a wave of protests in the capital, Male, with angry clashes between police and demonstrators.
China views the Maldives as key to its Maritime Silk Road project in the Indian Ocean as it has already acquired Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
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