New Delhi: China's growing ties with the Maldives, blamed discreetly for the scrapped GMR airport deal, may be part of its larger scheme to dominate the strategically-important sea lanes of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), according to an assessment of the Indian intelligence agencies. Beijing is reportedly wooing Male to pre-empt a US move to set up a new military base in the Maldives' southernmost island of Gan.
Incidentally, though the ministry of external affairs was rather discreet about the involvement of a 'foreign hand' in the GMR episode, intelligence assessments coming in from Male are more upfront in outlining fears of a China factor.
Gan, a tourist destination in Addu Atoll that also has an international airport, is considered safe for deep anchorage. The US, sources in the Indian security establishment told TOI, has evinced interest in the former British naval and air force base in Gan for servicing its naval fleet, launching surveillance operations and routing military supplies. This is in sync with US President Barack Obama's "pivot towards Asia" policy.
15/12/12 PTI/Economic Times
