China deepens defence ties with Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal

BEIJING: A Chinese military delegation on Wednesday wrapped up a visit to three of India’s closest neighbours - the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal - to boost bilateral defence ties, deepening relations in a region that New Delhi considers its sphere of influence.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) delegation held “in-depth discussions” on bilateral defence cooperation and reached various points of “consensus” during a visit from March 4 to 13, China’s defence ministry said in a statement, without elaborating. The talks also focused on regional and security issues, the statement said, adding it “enriched the content of defence cooperation” between China and the three countries.

Ties between Beijing and New Delhi have grown more tense in recent months, strained by disputes over how their borders should be drawn to the passage of Chinese survey vessels in the Indian Ocean. In 2020, relations nosedived after 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed during a border skirmish.

On Tuesday, India rejected Chinese objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas, which China claims to be a part of southern Tibet.

Adding to India’s unease, China has been trying to boost ties with nations in the Indian Ocean since the world’s second-biggest economy reopened its borders after three years of self-imposed pandemic curbs.