'India, China war games begin with countries like Maldives'

The GMR case is only the beginning of the growing competition among Asian superpowers at the resource-rich Indian Ocean island.

Buzz that China is at work in the Indian Ocean nation to prompt the Maldives government to oust Indian infra major GMR, has gotten louder as China seems to have established itself as an attractive alternative to India.

Mohamed Nasheed, former president of the Maldives, in an interview with Indian Express today confirmed that the distrust between India and China has indeed been growing and unfortunately countries like Maldives, which are dependent on their neghbours for economic support, are used as pawns.

[caption id="attachment_549013" align="alignleft" width="380"] Ousted president Nasheed feels Maldives is a pawn in the India-China war games. AP[/caption]

"We are in a period in time where we are witnessing the birth of new Asian superpowers. Countries such as the Maldives are places where a new Great Game is being played," Nasheed is quoted as saying in the Express.

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Firstpost too had earlier reported that Maldives' decision had more to do with political exigencies than legal issues as a a few elements in the Maldivian government want to push out the Indian company and rope in a Chinese firm instead.

Maldives' radical Islamic party Adhaalath,seen as a non secular political formulation which has been at the forefront of the agitation against GMR, tweeted last week, "We would rather give the airport contract to our friends in China, who now make the majority of our tourist population."

Describing China as a growing superpower, the party, tweeted, "With China already based in Seashells (sic), the addition of Maldives as a friend would be a massive blow to future Indian power in this region.... India would lose her reliance on our strategic location and global trade routes. We will seek the assistance of China in this endeavor."

China has already expanded its influence in Maldives through tourism with 25 percent of inflow in 2012 so far.

India has a crucial strategic, military and economic interest in the Maldives as it has a naval and coast guard surveillance and maritime presence in the island nation, which is why it is closely watching China, which is trying to extend its footprint.

Maldives and GMR could therefore be the small fish in this power struggle between India, China and Pakistan after the political feud in Maldives intensified ever since the transition of power took place under abnormal circumstances on 7 February 2012.

The political implications of this ouster became even more obvious when Mohamed Nasheed in whose term the GMR-Male agreement was signed stated, "Waheed's government has cynically used xenophobia, nationalism and religious extremism to attack GMR, the country's largest foreign investor. Waheed is leading the Maldives down the path to economic ruin."

As one of the larger donors to Maldives, India is concerned that such massive project cancellations would hurt the interests of this atoll state in the long run. The move has already sent negative signals to prospective investors, including MNCS that are already present in Maldives.

"Since the targeting of GMR, other multinational corporations have started selling their assets in the Maldives. Sadly, it is ordinary Maldivians who will suffer most," Waheed told Express.

Several state and private Indian institutions have played a vital role in the economic and cultural development of Maldives. By threatening to suspend any kind of aid to Maldives will only imply advantage China since it is waiting to cash in on any disruption in India's ties with smaller countries like Maldives. Moreover, it will only strengthen radical anti-Indian forces in the island.