Turmoil in Maldives over polls its internal affair: China

The crisis created by the postponement of the crucial presidential revote in the Maldives is an internal affair of the island nation, China said today.
"The presidential election is a matter of the Maldives' internal affair and China respects the people's independent choice," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here today.
China hopes related parties will resolve their disputes through friendly negotiation, Hua said while responding to a question on the Maldives' presidential election that was blocked by police on Saturday.
"China has faith in the Maldives' government and its people," the spokeswoman said. "They have wisdom and the ability to solve problems.

"China is closely following the situation (in) the Maldives," she said, expressing hope that the Maldives would maintain national stability and social development in the wake of the halted election.
The Maldivian police halted the presidential election, claiming that it did not meet a 16-point guideline set by the Supreme Court ahead of the polls.
Asked about India and international community's efforts to encourage elections to be held, Hua repeated her earlier assertion that it is a domestic affair of the Maldives.
China in recent years has acquired strategic influence in the Maldives with aid and development projects, besides encouraging Chinese tourists to visit the islands. It has also opened its embassy in Male.