"Normal Cooperation With Maldives Doesn't Target Any Third Party": China

"Normal cooperation between China and the Maldives does not target any third party and will not be disrupted by any third party" Mao said, without naming any country.

China on Tuesday vowed to work with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with the island nation and underlined that normal cooperation between the two does not "target" any third party and will not be disrupted by any 3rd party.

Asked for her comments on China's military agreement with the Maldives at a press briefing here, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning referred the media to "competent Chinese authorities" for details.

"More broadly, China is committed to working with the Maldives to build a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership," she said.