China will supply military equipment and train soldiers under an agreement signed on Monday to provide military assistance, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said last night.

Speaking in Dhaalu Meedhoo during his official visits ahead of the parliamentary elections, Muizzu referred to his meeting earlier in the day with a visiting senior Chinese military officer and said that China has always maintained military ties with the Maldives.

“It was an agreement to provide under grant aid various kinds of training that soldiers need and to provide non-lethal equipment for free,” the President said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China, paid a courtesy call on President Muizzu at the President’s Office.

The Maldives defense force would receive further training and improve capacity under the agreement, the President said, adding that the effort was intended to establish self-reliance.

“This work, too, is being done for us to stand on our own two feet, for us to further strengthen our independence, as part of efforts to strengthen our self-reliance and stand on our own feet,” he said.

However, the government has not revealed any details yet about the military equipment to be provided by China. The Defense Ministry has not responded to Adhadhu.

The agreement was signed by Major General Zhang Baoqun on behalf of China and Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon on behalf of the Maldives.

The ruling Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition enjoys a close relationship with China and the Maldives maintained close ties with China during the PPM's first government.

Early in President Muizzu's administration, the government faced criticism from the opposition as a Chinese research vessel that was denied entry to some other countries docked in Male' after spending a month near the border of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Xiang Yang Hong 03, the most advanced research vessel in the Chinese fleet, docked in Male' on February 22. Three days later, the ship returned to the EEZ boundary.

Several international actors allege that research conducted by such vessels is used by the Chinese military.

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government pursued a policy of seeking military assistance from India. At the time, officials in the current administration accused Solih of prioritizing India's interests.

However, the current government has also decided to use aircraft donated by India and to seek further assistance.