Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to India early last month was considered unprecedented in diplomatic spheres. Nevertheless, it followed an established pattern of small island states in the Indo-Pacific swinging back toward the major regional powers they are traditionally close to after testing the waters with Beijing.
These small island nations are often constrained by limited resources and rely heavily on other countries for aid, trade and security — while remaining wary of the potential of larger powers interfering in their internal affairs and encroaching on their sovereignty.
With the Indo-Pacific becoming a contested arena at an unprecedented pace due to China’s so-called peaceful rise, it is imperative for Japan, Australia and India to harmonize their policies toward small island states to ensure they are not co-opted by Beijing.
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