The Maldivian Crisis and the China angle
The Maldives is an Archipelago of Islands in the Indian Ocean derived its name from Sanskrit; where Mala meant a string or garland whereas Dwip meant island, hence garland of Islands in the Indian Ocean. The Islands of Maldives saw a fluorescent Buddhist period from around 3rd Century BC up until the 12th century AD when Islam became the official religion of Maldives. The Maldivian Archipelago still bears ruins of the marvellous Buddhist heritage. The advent of the 15th century saw many colonial powers ranging from the Portuguese to the Dutch and finally to the British when an agreement in 1887 between the then Sultan of Maldives and the British made it an official protectorate of the commonwealth.