China will stop Indian military action in the Maldives: Global Times

China will stop Indian military action in the Maldives, the state-run Global Times has said, as there is no “righteous cause” for any armed intervention without UN backing.

The Beijing-based tabloid fired a warning shot at New Delhi, which has been entreated several times by the former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed to help resolve a crisis in the honeymoon destination.

President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency following a shock Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of his opponents including Nasheed. Yameen said he declared the state of emergency so he could investigate a plot to overthrow his government.

On February 6, the day after the state of emergency was declared, Nasheed said he wanted India to send an envoy backed by the military.

Beijing has asked the international community to respect the tropical nation’s sovereignty, but the Global Times was much more strident in its Monday editorial.

“China will not interfere in the internal affairs of the Maldives, but that does not mean that Beijing will sit idly by as New Delhi breaks the principle.

“If India one-sidedly sends troops to the Maldives, China will take action to stop New Delhi. India should not underestimate China’s opposition to unilateral military intervention.”

India has said it is disturbed by the state of emergency, but has made no formal comment about Nasheed’s requests, while Indian media appears divided over the prospect of gunboat diplomacy.

On Sunday RaajjeTV said that 70 percent of people who took part in a poll on the subject opposed Nasheed’s request to India.