China warns tourists to postpone trips to the Maldives
Travel advisory comes as political turmoil and a state of emergency declaration destabilises the popular holiday spot ahead of Lunar New Year break
China’s foreign ministry has advised Chinese citizens to avoid visiting the Maldives until political tensions subside on the Indian Ocean archipelago.
A tropical paradise for holidaymakers, the Maldives has been beset by fractious politics for years, but concern over potential instability heightened after its attorney general warned on Sunday that the government would resist any attempt by the Supreme Court to impeach President Abdulla Yameen for disobeying its order to free jailed opposition leaders.
“China suggests that Chinese citizens who are preparing to go to the Maldives in the near term to postpone going until the situation on the ground stabilises,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Monday, noting that the upcoming Lunar New Year was a peak period for Chinese tourists to visit the Maldives.
Geng said China supported the resolution of differences between all relevant sides in the Maldives through dialogue and consultation to protect its national and social stability.
Hours after the announcement was made, a state of emergency was declared in the country.
