The Joint Ocean Observation Station was a planned maritime observatory to be built on Makunudhoo in the Maldives, to be operated by the State Oceanic Administration of China and the Ministry of Environment and Energy of the Maldives.[1]
History edit
The Government of India and oppositional Maldivian Democratic Party have argued that the observatory will be used for military applications by China.[2] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China has denied that the observatory will serve any military purpose.[3] The observatory was scrapped in 2019.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Key Agreements signed between the Maldives and China". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives. December 8, 2017.
The Protocol on Establishment of Joint Ocean Observation Station between the State Oceanic Administration of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Environment and Energy of the Republic of Maldives
- ^ Parashar, Sachin (February 26, 2018). "China's ocean observatory in Maldives sparks fresh security concerns". The Times of India.
- ^ "Beijing says Maldives marine observatory is non-military". Asia Times Online. February 28, 2018.
"China's marine cooperation with the Maldives carries no military purpose, none whatsoever," said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
- ^ "Big win for India! Maldives likely to scrap controversial Indian Ocean observatory agreement with China". Times Now. The Times Group. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 2024-03-23.