1y ago

Maldives gives port clearance to a Chinese ship. The move could inflame a dispute with India

apnews.com

6 comments

How dare China - checks notes - have a ship dock in the port of a country that agreed to let it dock there! Does its evil know no bounds!
Not to deflect the conversation, but is there a name for that circle-hair-beard thing? “Tragic” isn’t specific enough, and so have to think there’s a name for it. I’m pretty sure I’ve only seen it in memes.
- I have decided to go with “hair vignette.”
This is the best summary I could come up with:
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The Maldives government said Tuesday that it had given clearance to a Chinese ship to dock in its port, a move that could further irk India with whom the tiny archipelago nation is involved in a diplomatic spat.
Three deputy ministers posted derogatory remarks on social media against Modi, which sparked calls in India for a boycott of the Maldives.
Pro-China Muizzu was elected to office in November on a platform to evict Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives.
The known activities of the Indian military include operating aircraft and assisting in the rescue of people stranded or faced with calamities at sea.
Sri Lanka, another island nation close to India, recently declared a year-long moratorium on research ships docking in its ports.
While the official stance of the government has been that it’s for the purpose of capacity building of local experts participating in joint research missions, the move is seen as a result of concerns raised by India over a planned visit of a Chinese ship.
The original article contains 608 words, the summary contains 174 words. Saved 71%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
Senator Marco Rubio had this to say on the issue:
The Chinese Communist Party continues to expand its unlawful and aggressive maritime presence throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The U.S. must continue to strengthen our partnerships w/ nations in the region and advance our capabilities to counter China’s aggression.
- Let me get this straight. When China docks a boat at a foreign port (through normal diplomatic channels, mind you, and in a region where China lacks military bases) it's "unlawful and aggressive."
  When the US opens up military bases on foreign soil, surrounding their key geopolitical rivals, it's "lawful and peaceful"?
  Your takes on this issue aren't better than your takes on the ICJ ruling.

6 comments