Home ministry condemns Chinese ‘land grab’ claims
Ex-foreign minister Naseem accused the government of “giving land to China which could be converted into military bases.”
24 Jun 2018, 9:00 AM
The home ministry on Sunday responded furiously to “blatantly false” claims by former foreign minister Ahmed Naseem that Maldivian islands could be used for Chinese military bases.
In an interview with India’s The Tribune, Naseem accused the government of “giving land to China which could be converted into military bases. China is grabbing land everywhere and has 16 islands in Maldives today.”
Condemning the allegations as an attempt to incite fear and disrupt diplomatic relations, the home ministry assured in a statement that the current administration would not endanger the Maldivian people or pose any threat to neighbouring countries.
“This government has always been working to maintain our small nation as the most beautiful and peaceful in the world,” it added.
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