China’s Influence Grows as Maldives’ Voters Show Support

In the general election held in the Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago, the pro-China ruling party, the Maldivian People’s National Congress (PNC), has won a resounding victory.

According to AFP, the Maldives Election Commission announced on the 21st (local time) that the PNC, to which President Mohamed Solih belongs, has secured 66 out of the total 93 seats. With the count still underway in seven constituencies favoring the ruling party, the number of seats for the PNC is expected to increase. The main opposition party, the pro-India Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), managed to secure only 12 seats.

This result further solidifies Solih’s pro-China diplomatic stance. In contrast to his predecessors, Solih, who assumed office in November last year, prioritized China over India for his first inaugural state visit. Subsequently, he requested the withdrawal of Indian military defense forces stationed in the Maldives and finalized a military agreement with China last month. He has also recently signed contracts with Chinese state-owned enterprises for major infrastructure projects.

The election results indicate a favorable perception among Maldivian voters toward Solih’s initiatives. The British media outlet The Guardian framed the election as primarily a contest for influence between India and China in the Maldives, commenting, “Maldivian voters have signaled a preference for China over India. The Maldives is now poised to shift away from India, its traditional ally, and align more closely with China.”