Maldives President speaks out amid tensions with India.

"We are not a country in another country's backyard. We are an independent country," AFP quoted President Muizzu as telling reporters upon his arrival in Male, the capital of the Maldives, on January 13. He had just completed a five-day visit to China this week, his first state visit as president.

"The policy of territorial integrity is a policy that China respects," the leader said in the Dhivehi language in the Maldives, according to local media. He then said in English: "We may be small, but that doesn't give you the right to bully us."

Tổng thống Maldives lên tiếng giữa căng thẳng với Ấn Độ- Ảnh 1. — President Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF MALDIVES

Muizzu won the Maldivian presidency last September amid rising geopolitical competition in the region. Two of his commitments were to force India to withdraw a small contingent of troops stationed in the Maldives and to improve relations with China.

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Muizzu's latest statement comes after tensions flared up over allegations that three Maldivian government officials used offensive language about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in social media posts earlier this month.

The three officials in question are deputy ministers at the Maldivian Ministry of Youth and have been suspended by President Muizzu over the incident. They had commented on Modi's visit to the Indian archipelago of Lakshadweep to promote local tourism . This archipelago is located just north of the Maldives.

In a statement on January 7, the Maldivian government said the remarks of the three officials were "personal and did not represent the views of the Maldivian government." The posts were later deleted, but the incident quickly caused tension in bilateral relations.

Bollywood actors and several prominent Indian cricket players have responded to calls to boycott tourism in the Maldives. Tourism accounts for nearly a third of the total value of the Maldivian economy, and Indians make up the largest proportion of foreign visitors.

Speaking to reporters on January 13, Muizzu said that Maldives would also reduce its dependence on India for healthcare and medical services, and add more countries where Maldivian citizens can seek medical treatment with government funding. Maldivian officials said most eligible citizens are currently receiving treatment in India, with a small number in Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In addition, Mr. Muizzu stated that most pharmaceuticals in the Maldives are currently imported from India, and Male will now seek to import medicines from the US and European countries.