Indian authorities have expressed concern over China’s expanding influence in the IT and telecom sectors in the Maldives, Indian media has reported.
The Indian Ministry of Communications and IT, along with security agencies in India, have now agreed that Beijing’s state-owned companies should be “kept at bay” from Maldives’ IT and telecom sectors, The Hindu reported.
Indian intelligence agencies were alerted to the issue after the Maldives requested a soft loan of US$54 million for an IT infrastructure project from China
The Ministry has suggested the Indian government plan a substantial investment in the Maldives along similar projects to ensure telecom traffic between India and Maldives is handled through equipment the Indian government has confidence in.
“The Government… may also plan substantial investment in the Maldives on similar projects [as being planned by China] ensuring that the traffic between India and the Maldives is handled through the equipment installed and commissioned in the Maldives by India,” read internal government note, according to Indian newspaper the Hindu.
The Sri Lankan subsidiary of Chinese telecom equipment-maker Huawei Technologies has already signed an agreement with Maldives’ National Centre of Information Technologies to develop IT infrastructure under the ‘Smart Maldives Project’, Indian media stated.
“The proposed project assumes significance due to the fact that China can capitalise its influence over the Maldives to utilise the latter’s network once the project is implemented,” the Indian Reasearch & Analysis Wing said in an internal note as reported by the Hindu.
Minivan News was awaiting a response from Indian Minister for Communications & Information Technology Shri Kapil Sibal and Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid at time of press.
Former Transport and Communications Minister Dr Ahmed Shamheed claimed the issue of Chinese involvement in the Maldivian IT sector had been raised by Indian officials in the past.
Shamheed said that a ‘smart card’ project that had been signed between China and Nasheed’s government to replace the National ID cards had sparked interest from the Indian government.
“The Indian High Commissioner in the Maldives once suggested to me that [the Chinese] would steal all of our government’s data should we work with them.
“The deal with the Chinese was that they would provide us with smart cards which will replace our current ID cards. When this happened, the Indian government wanted to provide us with their own system instead of the Chinese one,” Shamheed told Minivan News.
Acting Minister of Transport and Communications Mohamed Nazim was not responding to calls at time of press.
Defence Minister visits China
Last month (December 10, 2012) Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim departed to China on an official five-day visit at the invitation of the Chinese Minister of National Defence.
The move fuelled speculation in the Indian media of a Chinese role in the government’s decision to void the agreement and evict the GMR-led consortium that took place two days prior to the visit in December.
“Looking at the political situation and political framework in Maldives, I can’t rule out anything,” GMR Airports chief financial officer (CFO) Sidharth Kapur told journalists in New Delhi in December.
Following official talks between the defence ministers, Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency reported in December that Nazim assured Chinese Minister of National Defence General Liang Guanglie that the Maldives was “willing to cement relations between the two countries and their militaries.”
Chinese companies discuss Maldives’ satellite slot
Former Minister of Communication Dr Ahmed Shamheed told Minivan News in December 2012 that Defence Minister Nazim had met with two Chinese companies interested in operating a satellite designated for the Maldives.
Under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Maldives could be entitled to an “orbital slot” for a satellite.
Because the Maldives’ lacks the capabilities to launch and operate a satellite, the state would have to lease it out to an external party, Shamheed said.
According to Shamheed, Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim had already been approached by various Chinese companies who have expressed interest in the satellite venture.
“At first, I had been involved in casual meetings with these companies, but now it seems to getting more serious. Nazim had even questioned as to why we have not yet signed an agreement with them,” Shamheed alleged.
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While Maldives is embroilded in bitter politics, the Indians scheme in destoying any sector or activity that Maldives can advance.
Dont politicions understand some are taking advantage of the political chaos.
MDP may think even India is better than Maumoon but think again
Dr Ahmed Shamheed - are you an idiot. Nazim must have cut a deal with a china general. When ever an opposition come to power could could be investigated for corrouption.
"According to Shamheed, Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim had already been approached by various Chinese companies who have expressed interest in the satellite venture."
"Nazim had even questioned as to why we have not yet signed an agreement with them,” Shamheed alleged"
This so called family owned "Hindu" newspaper is on the pay roll of foreign governments and this newspaper is only popular among retired people there.
Still these Bald heads at the South Block have not understand that Chinese are just 20 km from South Indian coast..why the hell worry about Maldives many hundreds km away from Soooper India...one fine day Chinese will caress Mallu Babies...still South Block jokers will advise selected..yes madam..puppet Singh everything is alright in India.
Huawei is a fast growing telecom brand now establishe all over the world...why these Indians are not aware Huawei equipments are being purchased by Indian telecom...even Huawei has got plants in Soooper India.
It is the Maldives people decide what the country need..not this "Hindu" newspaper or South Block bald headed "M"s.
The only Indian brand known outside is papadam...walk into any electronic shops in any country all brands available there marked Made in China..
The advantage of Maldives is having 1000s of Islands spread across Indian ocean...when necessary..it is possible to install fire works towards Sooper India by interested party.
So so nothing surprise now "M" s at South Block go to toilet every 10 minutes becauSE of Chinese influence in Maldives....Soon Soooper India will reap lavishly for their unnecessary involvement in neighbouring countries.
JAI ITALY
Barbarian seems to have had paki influenza. Having made in China items is business relations with India. Like wise the same in China. After all the chaos and confusion, Crab country maldives will find out that all this enemity and everything between China and India was all media Hype. After all, both India and china could use spots-on-the-globe maldives as missile testing dummy. So quit bragging about you balming chinese arses. It doesn't make a difference to India.
Also, Indians have corrupt politicians and the head of state is Silent, but still we are there on the world map. So cheers. try building artificial islands so that your tuna republic could atleast be seen on the globe. But make sure you don't build it into indian territorial waters. machiengun fire could sink Male!
..he he he babarians..primitive ...who are they..?
-marrying own sister`s daughter
-burying alive newly born baby girl
-shiting in open air
-raping girls and women whenever they like( an Indian can rape Shiela Dixit then go to court get bail then rape Priyanga go to court bailout himself again go and rape Sonia...and so on)In any civilised country rape is a serious offence except this Soooper India)
-roasting rats and eat when hungry
-trating their own citizen like animals becaues of their work ..(but caste is exempted fot Europeans.)..in Europe Indians call white toilet cleaners and cobblers as "FAMILY FRIENDS"
-in Europe if an Asian looking guy look at a car or a white girls in short dress with open mouth you can safely say he is an Indian..these guys even dont know the name of the dress and say FARIN(inglish for Foriegn) dress.
-go and see in the west where and how these so called Indian embassies operate---near somalia or some african embassies--and staff work as diplomat--typist--guide---always travel in bus whereas Chinese Embassies have got their own buildings and all diplomates go to work on cars.
-dancing in funneral procession
all above happen in India at this minute he he he but jokers say we are best..we are big...we are Soooooper (inglis for Super)
-even in the flight these Indians dont know how to behave..bring food from home and eat---talking in mobile phone loudly though it is prohibited.
-when Indian go to Europe they cook in their room which is prohibited and make trouble everyone..many westren hotel dont like Indian guests
First Indian must learn how to dress can someone teach them ?
All over the worls at airport immigration Indian inglish is a popular joke among immigration officers.
This SOOOOPER India is a Democracy..Developed ..Advanced all in paper.
When Press interviewed the mother of a Delhi rape accused...she told that she doesn`t know who is this yes Madam..Sonia`s Poodle ..PM Singh....really India is developed where you can get anything for few hundred rupees,Degrees and Doctorates will cost few thousands that is all.
Till Indira Khan(wife of Feroz Khan who changed his name as Ghandi to hoodwink illiterate Indians ) was PM ....Soooper Indians were licking Soviet Union but now licking US...this is their Farin Palicy(inglish for foreign policy)
Arunachal Pradesh is now mentioned in China Map and people of this state don`t require visa to visit China....not even a small country will not tolerate this insult.
Soooper Indian has got world`s 4th largest army in the World and they can smoke only beedi..no money for cigarette...but 20,000 sq.km of Indian land is still in China`s hand after India-China war...how is this?