"Maldives President Muizzu's Upcoming China Visit Stirs Diplomatic Waves"
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu is set to visit China, signaling a potential shift in the island nation's foreign policy away from its "India first" stance. This move comes amidst the Maldives' significant debt to China, which amounts to about $1.3 billion. India has responded to the visit by stating that it is for the Maldives to decide its international relations. The visit is seen as a snub to India, with whom the Maldives has a history of military cooperation, and highlights the ongoing competition for influence between India and China in the region.