Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who is perceived as pro-Chinese, and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed departed for China on Sunday for a state visit amid an ongoing diplomatic row with India.

"This visit is being made following an invitation from the President of China, H.E. Xi Jinping," read a statement issued by the Maldives President's website.

"During President Dr Muizzu's State Visit, the Maldives and China will hold official talks and sign key agreements to enhance trade, professional development, and socioeconomic cooperation. This visit will also pave the way for collaborations in technology and other areas between the two countries," the statement said.

Diplomatic row with India

He is visiting China amid a growing diplomatic row with India over the comments made by three Maldivian ministers against Indian PM Narendra Modi.

Ministers suspended

The Maldivian government on Sunday suspended three ministers for their alleged derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi which triggered a row between the two nations.

The three ministers were identified as Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid.

"Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs," read a statement issued by the country's government as quoted by NDTV.

This comes in the wake of Maldivian Minister Mariyam Shiuna’s disparaging comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "clown" and "puppet" in posts on X, which have since been deleted.

These tweets were removed following criticism and backlash on the micro-blogging site.

India-Maldives relationship

The row erupted under the shadow of strained India-Maldives ties after President Mohamed Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China politician, came to power.

Muizzu assumed the presidency of the Maldives in November 2023. As part of his election promise, he committed to withdrawing a group of approximately 75 Indian military personnel from his country and revising the Maldives' longstanding "India first" policy.

'Boycott Maldives' is trending on social media following a tweet by a Maldives minister days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pictorial visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago.

PM Modi's visit to the country's smallest Union Territory comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km was seen as a move to promote tourism on the island.