A communist win in the Nepal elections, the Maldives signing a crucial free trade deal with China and endorsing its One Belt One Road (OBOR) project, and Sri Lanka formally handing over the strategic port of Hambantota to China — all of these news came to India over the last fortnight from its neighbouring countries. Admitting that these developments were sources of anxiety, India on Thursday asked its neighbours to remain sensitive to India's security concerns.
Last Friday, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen signed 12 agreements, including the free trade agreement (FTA), during his visit to Beijing. A day after that, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attended an event to formally handover Hambantota to China, which will take control of the facility on a 99-year lease.
China will also build a 7-km Friendship Bridge from Maldives capital Male to its only international airport on nearby Hulhule island. With Chinese presence now just 720 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the string or pearls around India is complete.
On Sri Lanka handing over its port to China, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said New Delhi expects the country to keep in mind India's security concerns and sensitivities. On Maldives, he stated that the country will continue to have a close and friendly relation. "It is our expectation that as a close and friendly neighbour, Maldives will be sensitive to our concerns in keeping to our concerns in keeping with its India-First policy," he said.
On Nepal, Kumar said India was looking forward to working with the democratically elected government to advance close and multifaceted partnership across all sectors and to support Nepal in pursuit of peace, stability, economic prosperity and all around development.
Congratulating the conduct of parliamentary elections and first-ever provincial elections, Kumar said India has age old, unique and time tested ties with Nepal.
STRING OF PEARLS
- Maldives President Abdulla Yameen signed 12 agreements with China.
- Sri Lanka handed over Hambantota port to China.
- Communists won in Nepal with huge margin.
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 "File photo of One Belt One Road project")
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