(New Delhi) Currently there is a political crisis in the Maldives. The
President Abdulla Yameen, has taken on an air of a policy of connecting Islam
with anti-Western rhetoric and as India the big neighbour across the way is
Hindu has made his bed with China, which just happens to be India’s nemesis .
Anyway early in February, the Maldives Supreme Court dropped charges against opposition leader and pro-Indian former President Mohammed Nasheed, and ordered that 12 opposition parliamentarians who had been stripped of their seats be reinstated. President Abdulla Yameen was having none of that and overruled the court’s decision and declared a state of emergency. Two Supreme Court judges and another former pro-Indian president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, were arrested on charges of attempting to overthrow the government. In the chaos that ensued, both Yameen and Nasheed appealed to regional powerhouses for their support. Yameen sent envoys to China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in a bid to strengthen his position. Nasheed, who is currently outside the Maldives, took to Twitter to request a military-backed envoy from India. The EU sent in a delegation and held a meeting with the opposition, but was denied talks with the ruling government, which it has accused of cracking down on democracy.
Whilst India has remained silent on sending forces to restore
law and order, China firmly told New Delhi not to send in any forces (As it did in 1998 after a coup)
Well, the situation has become much more complicated as it
has been reported that China has sent in a task force of 13 ships into the Eastern Indian ocean for some very strange reason, of which they are remaining tight
lipped about. The task forces consists of
two 052D destroyers, a 054A frigate, and a 071 dock landing ship. A supply ship
is also part of the flotilla. This has been beefed up by the 27th escort convoy comprising a destroyer, frigate and a replenishment ship and the 28th convoy escort formation in the western Indian Ocean. 13 ships in total.
The 7500 tonnes Type 052D guided missile destroyer
(Luyang-III class) is among the world's biggest and most
capable destroyers. Equipped with advanced
radar and two 32-cell Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) for various missiles. It is presumed that the Type 052D has capabilities similar to
those of the US Arleigh Burke class general-purpose destroyers.
The 4000 tonne Type 054A frigate (Jiangkai II) is a class of Chinese multi-role frigates, the first of
which entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in
2007. It has a hard-to-pick
stealthy design and good anti-ship and counter-submarine capability.
The 25000 tonne Type 071 amphibious transport ship is geared for beach
landing troops. An array of amphibious landing craft, assault vehicles and two
back-up helicopters are used for sea-to-land deployment of around 800 troops,
equivalent of an army battalion.
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| Type 052D |
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| Type 054A |
“Overall, the Chinese Navy is sending out an amphibious convoy fleet with strong regional air defence, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities and the ability to deliver rather large-scale amphibious troops quickly,”
It appears that things may become very complicated
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