Maldives president departs for China amid diplomatic row with India
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu departed for China along with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on Sunday night (Jan 7) which marked the beginning of a state visit. He had received an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The official visit comes at a time when the country is engaged in a diplomatic row with its closest neighbour and a major source of tourism - India.
President Muizzu, who came to power with his 'Out India' campaign, suspended the government's three deputy ministers - Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoon Maajid, after they posted derogatory comments on social media platform X in reaction to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing the world to visit Lakshadweep islands, which is the archipelago for tourism.
The prime minister's visit was seen by some as an effort to attract tourism to the island but some also viewed it as a step to take away tourists from the globally popular Maldives, whose 1,192 islands in the Indian Ocean are filled with luxury resorts.
"The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," stated the Maldives Foreign Ministry, while responding to the controversial social media posts.
Indian celebrities call for local tourism
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Half-tank rule’: Does keeping your fuel tank full improve mileage?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Automatic cars vs manuals’: Which uses more fuel?
)
Why Janet Jackson is completely absent from the new movie Michael
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Kuwait vs. Iran: The border incident nobody is talking about
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Flight Deck Boots': Why USS Abraham Lincoln sailors wear extremely heavy shoes
)
Netherlands to return 11th-century Chola copper plates to India during PM Modi’s visit
)
Antarctic cosmic dust proves Earth has been traversing through supernova debris for 80,000 years
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Hydraulic Arms': How the USS Abraham Lincoln pops up its emergency net
)
Eight killed, 32 injured as freight train hits bus at rail crossing in Bangkok
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Robotic warfare’: How the Chengdu J-20 can rewrite the rules of aerial combat
)
‘I won’t lie for money’: German model LizLaz exposes media plot to defame Virat Kohli
)
Fact check: Trump caught on video taking a sneak peek at Xi Jinping’s private notebook? Clip goes viral | WATCH
)
'The sofa was clearly higher': Here's how social media reacted to Trump-Xi viral video
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Night Vision': Why the USS Abraham Lincoln bans white flashlights on deck
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Top 7 most economically stable countries in world: India & Pakistan ranking will surprise you
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters fastest to 14,000 T20 runs
)
Andhra CM offers cash incentives of ₹30,000 for 3rd child, ₹40,000 for 4th to reverse declining population trend
)
Bermuda Triangle Mystery 'Solved': Scientists REVEAL Structure Found Beneath Island
)
Watch | Thousands of bees ‘invade’ Trump's White House; spark ‘biblical plague’ buzz online: 'BLASPHEMERS will be dealt with - most definitely!'
)
'Will not act until divorce': Ravi Mohan makes shocking announcement after Keneeshaa Francis quits social media
)
‘Prepare for battle of Britain’: Tommy Robinson tells tens of thousands at London rally
)
Jana Nayagan release: CM Vijay takes action, asks producer to return from Cannes
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How much fuel do frequent gear changes really waste?
)
From weapons to wheels: Sweden’s deepening ‘Make in India’ partnership
)
Trump in bonkers boast reveals he told Xi 'we spy like hell on China'
)
Cannes Film Festival 2026: Aditi Rao Hydari stuns at the red carpet in elegant green gown | See pics
)
Noida protest accused was transferred Rs 1 crore in foreign currency to his bank account
)
Jana Nayagan on OTT: Vijay’s victory renews interest in his film, streaming platforms compete to get digital rights
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Does cruise control really save fuel?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Nostradamus prophecies for 2026: Bees, 7 months great war, 3 fires and more
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
What is the ideal car speed for maximum fuel savings?
)
Media house forced to delete story after PM Modi fact-checks misleading report on X: 'Totally false'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Sleep Deprived': How the USS Abraham Lincoln crew survives endless night operations
)
Five Italian divers killed in Maldives cave tragedy after scuba expedition turns deadly
)
India restricts import of two types of silver bars with immediate effect
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Petrol vs diesel: Which car engine really saves more money in daily driving?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Indian rupee becomes Asia’s worst-performing currency- Who else is on the list?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Indians at Cannes 2026: Alia Bhatt, Urvashi Rautela, Huma Qureshi and others stun on the global red carpet
Many prominent Indian personalities, including cricketer Hardik Pandya and actor Akshay Kumar, expressed dismay at the comments posted by the Maldivian officials. In an online campaign aimed at promoting local tourism, former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actor Salman Khan and others appealed to people to visit their own islands and not to travel abroad.
#ExploreIndianIslands became the second largest trending hashtag on social media platform X in India and some users also started sharing screenshots of cancelled bookings of Maldivian holidays.
Watch:Maldives sacks 3 ministers for insulting comments on PM Modi | India-Maldives derogatory comment row
India, which is a crucial ally of Maldives, has been contributing significantly to the country's economy through tourism as the Indians form the biggest group of tourists who visit the island nation. However, the relations between the two countries have strained since Muizzu came to power in November. The president had been seen as pro-Chinese, and in his election campaign had vowed to remove a small contingent of Indian military personnel which is stationed in the Maldives.
(With inputs from agencies)