Maldives, Australia counter China’s claim of participation in Indian Ocean Region meet organised by Beijing

Maldives and Australia have strongly countered China’s claim that they joined Indian Ocean Region Forum on November 21 organised by Beijing.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the joint press statement released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) alleging the participation of the Maldives in the “China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation”, held on 21 November 2022. The Ministry would like to clarify, that the Government of Maldives did not participate in the above-mentioned Forum, and communicated its decision not to participate to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Maldives on 15 November 2022. Furthermore, participation by individuals or group of individuals from the Maldives, does not constitute official representation by the Government of Maldives,” Maldives Foreign Ministry clarified.

It may be recalled that Maldives has minimal contact with China since 2018.


Australian Envoy to India Barry O Farrell emphasised, “Contrary to media reporting, no Australian Government official attended the Kunming China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation. Pleased @TimWattsMP attended #IORA Ministerial Council last week, the only ministerial-level forum for Indian Ocean "was delighted application for Vice Chair was accepted by consensus. We share an enduring interest: a free, open, rules-based & secure Indo-Pacific."

Maldives and Australia were represented at the Chinese led meet by former leaders and not government representatives.

China earlier claimed that Representatives from 19 countries in the Indian Ocean Region — South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Indonesia and Australia — participated in the meet.

The forum was organised by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), China's new development aid agency. It is currently headed by China's former Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, who has served as ambassador to India and Pakistan in the past.

The development comes at a time when China is increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. It has created stakes with investments in ports and other infrastructure in the region, from Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the west to Eastern Africa. In East Africa, where it also launched its first foreign military base in Djibouti in 2017, China has investments in at least 17 ports, giving it a robust presence in the western Indian Ocean.