China should take measures to stop Indian military intervention in Maldives, urges media

China should take necessary measures to stop Indian military intervention during the on-going political crisis in the Maldives, a Chinese commentary said on Tuesday.

"China will not interfere in the internal affairs of Maldives, but that does not mean that Beijing will sit and watch as New Delhi breaks the principle. If India sends troops to the Maldives, China will take action to stop it. India should not underestimate China's opposition to unilateral military intervention," wrote Ai Jun in the Party-run Global Times, a paper known for its hawkish views.

India, it said, should "exercise restraint". "Maldives is in turmoil right now and China firmly opposes outside interference in the country's internal affairs. More than that, China should take necessary measures to stop India if it moves to intervene militarily," it said.

China's government has said in recent days, including to the visiting Maldives special envoy, it believes the crisis is "an internal affair" and that the embattled Yameen government had the "capability" to resolve the issue, although the president has been widely criticised for imposing a 15-day emergency and detaining the chief justice as well as opposition leaders.

The Global Times also mentioned that some Indians are pondering over a military intervention.