China hopes to strengthen its relationship with the Maldives after the election victory of the Muizzu party

Beijing said that it completely accepted the decision taken by the Maldivian people and intended to further strengthen China’s strategic alliance with the island country after the People’s National Congress (PNC), which is now in power and supports China, won a resounding majority in parliamentary elections.

In what is seen as support for his pro-China foreign policy—which deviates from the previous government’s India First policy—President Mohamed Muizzu’s party won almost 60 seats in parliament, giving them a supermajority.

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry congratulated the Maldives on their successful election and said that China fully supports the Maldivians’ decision. “China stands ready to work with the Maldives to carry forward traditional friendship, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, deepen China-Maldives comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and speed up the building of a China-Maldives community with a shared future to deliver greater benefits to our two peoples.”

The government of Muizzu refuted claims that geopolitical rivalry shaped the election agenda, but having a pro-government parliament is a plus for China as well, which has emerged as the preferred partner of the Maldives following the election of a pro-China politician to the presidency last year, unseating his pro-Indian predecessor. The pro-India MDP, which garnered 65 seats in 2019, was humiliated to be reduced to only 10 seats in the People’s Majlis, while the PNC secured a record 68 seats.