Former President of Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed Nasheed has said that opposition leaders and key figures were arrested during the government of President Abdulla Yameen with the backing of China.

President Nasheed made the statement during the India Economic Summit.

He also highlighted that there was no wish to be sandwiched in the cold war between India and China. He further added that the only thing another country can complain about the Maldives would be the human rights issues the country faces.

"He arrested every single opposition leader, including his own brother. He prolonged parliament, he declared emergency rule and he has done this all through Chinese backing. It's very clear it's all through Chinese backing. We don't like confrontations but we like our freedoms and we like our country. I have no issue whatsoever with Chinese money, people or culture. It's when impinges on our society to the extent where my freedoms are curtailed, that's where I am worried," Nasheed said.

He further asserted that China pushes their ideologies by a parliament changing laws, arresting the opposition and judges and dissolving the constitution eventually leading up to a single party rule.

President Nasheed explained that they sought assistance of India in February 2018 when Supreme Court judges were arrested in a bid to restore democracy in the Indo Pacific nation.