News Desk
MALE’ — The Maldives government issued a formal statement on Thursday reaffirming its commitment to the One China Principle, recognising the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing all of China and describing Taiwan as an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
The statement, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under reference 2026/PR/94, cites United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and established principles of international law as the basis for the position. It says the Maldives has maintained this stance consistently since establishing diplomatic relations with China.
The government said it remains committed to strengthening its partnership with China and values Beijing’s continued support for the country’s socio-economic development.
The statement was issued without a specific trigger being named. Its timing is worth noting. It comes days after a senior US State Department official visited Thilafushi to inspect the commercial port relocation project, which was awarded to Chinese state firm China Harbor Engineering Company earlier this year. Washington has been making visible overtures across the Indian Ocean region on infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
Whether the foreign ministry statement is connected to that visit, or to broader regional signalling around Taiwan, the government has not said. Formal One China reaffirmations of this kind are not unusual in Maldivian foreign policy, but the specific timing and the formal press release format suggest it was considered worth putting on the record this week in particular.
