WHY SAUDI ARABIA, CHINA AND ISLAMIC STATE ARE COURTING THE MALDIVESAs Riyadh and Beijing nurture grandiose plans for military bases, New Delhi fears the archipelago could become a breeding ground for the terrorist group
China sees the islands as a node in its “string of pearls” – a row of ports on key trade and oil routes linking the Middle Kingdom to the Middle East – while for Saudi Arabia, the atolls have the added advantage of lying a straight three-hour shot from the coast of regional rival and arch-foe, Iran.
The possible building of Chinese and/or Saudi military bases here would also complement the independent development of both nations’ military outposts in Djibouti, an East African nation on a key energy export route at the mouth of the Red Sea.
King Salman’s visit also comes as the kingdom negotiates the US$10 billion development, if not wholesale acquisition, of Faafu, 19 low-lying islands 120km south of the Maldivian capital of Male.
That project would involve building seaports, airports, high-end housing and resorts and the creation of special economic zones.
Source: SCMP
http://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopoliti ... g-maldives
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"