China respectful partner of the Maldives

Over the past decade, the China-Maldives partnership has set a good example of equality and mutual benefit between countries regardless of their sizes. Yet that has not stopped some media in the West from continuing to harp on the old tune of China's "debt trap", by claiming that Chinese lending to the country will compromise the Maldives' long-term growth.

Which is not true.

The fact is the current debt repayment obligations of the Maldives are mainly to multilateral financial institutions, not China. As a matter of fact, the Chinese assistance brings tangible benefits to the local people. And China has ensured the arrangements for loan interest rates, repayment periods and grace periods are appropriate.