The heated debate between Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Mr. Zhang Lizhong and Parliament Speaker Mr. Mohamed Nasheed has once again caught the limelight.
Often both Mr. Nasheed and Ambassador Zhang have been seen debating about the China-Maldives partnership. The recent Twitter feud was initiated when Mr. Nasheed stated that over the next 14 days, Maldives has to pay over 15 million USD to Chinese banks.
In this regard, Nasheed has tweeted that the repayment of 15 million USD to Chinese banks will represent over 50% of government income over the next 14 days. He added that after Covid, Maldives needs breathing space.
In reply, the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Mr. Zhang Lizhong, tweeted that according to the feedback from banks, there is no such 15 million payment due in 14 days.
Maldives has taken over a billion USD as a loan from China. The government has also included 4.9 billion Rufiyaa in the budget 2021 as loan repayments. Meanwhile, Nasheed has also stated that the budgeted amount will not be enough to repay the loans. Nasheed has said that 80% of the loans taken by the Maldives are from China, and even if we sell old jewelry (or grandmothers jewelry), the Maldives will not be able to repay the loans taken by China.
The current administration has already denied the statements by Nasheed against the China-Maldives partnerships.
Often both Mr. Nasheed and Ambassador Zhang have been seen debating about the China-Maldives partnership. The recent Twitter feud was initiated when Mr. Nasheed stated that over the next 14 days, Maldives has to pay over 15 million USD to Chinese banks.
In this regard, Nasheed has tweeted that the repayment of 15 million USD to Chinese banks will represent over 50% of government income over the next 14 days. He added that after Covid, Maldives needs breathing space.
In reply, the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Mr. Zhang Lizhong, tweeted that according to the feedback from banks, there is no such 15 million payment due in 14 days.
Good news. According to the feedback from banks,there is no such 15 million payment due in 14 days. Check the account book and save it for the budget. Cheers. https://t.co/SOygyvbN6r
— Amb. Zhang Lizhong (@AmbassadorZhang) December 11, 2020
Maldives has taken over a billion USD as a loan from China. The government has also included 4.9 billion Rufiyaa in the budget 2021 as loan repayments. Meanwhile, Nasheed has also stated that the budgeted amount will not be enough to repay the loans. Nasheed has said that 80% of the loans taken by the Maldives are from China, and even if we sell old jewelry (or grandmothers jewelry), the Maldives will not be able to repay the loans taken by China.
The current administration has already denied the statements by Nasheed against the China-Maldives partnerships.
