Context: 

This editorial is based on the news “India doesn’t need wolf warriors” which was published in The Hindu. China has pursued wolf warrior diplomacy in recent times, the writer argues India need not to implement the same in its relations with Maldives.

About Wolf Warrior Diplomacy

• Origin: When faced with global criticism on how it failed to stop COVID-19 from becoming a pandemic, China faced the world with combative and insensitive language that came to be known as wolf-warrior diplomacy.
• “Wolf warrior diplomacy” is a tactic for the Chinese government to extend its ideology beyond China and counter the West and defend itself. 
• It is an unofficial term for the more aggressive and confrontational style of communication that Chinese diplomats have taken to in the last decade.

Does China benefit from Wolf Warrior Diplomacy?

• China did not benefit much, rather it formed a perception that China is a bully which does not respect international law.
• Italy skipped from the Belt and road initiative.
• Many western countries have cut down their trade in a significant manner.

Recent Maldives President China’s Visit 

• Regaining Old Position: Mr. Muizzu appealed to China to “intensify” its efforts to regain its position in the Maldives market as before the pandemic.
• Comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership: China and the Maldives also elevated their bilateral ties to a ‘comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership’. 
  • In addition, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China “respects and supports the Maldives in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions”. 
• Implications for India: China’s presence in the Maldives and its waters and allow China an increased digital and physical surveillance capability.

Importance of Maldives for India

• Key Maritime neighbor: Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region. 
• Helpful in International Fora: It has also consistently taken pro-India positions in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Continue To Read: Divergence In The India-Maldives Relations

Conclusion

• An aspiring great power like India should be able to project harmony between its own national interests and the interests of everyone else, most importantly its neighbors. 
• While formulating India’s relations with Maldives, India  should keep in focus people of Maldives rather than government off days to generate goodwill.