You know how Team China gains influence in the region? By occupying the most important piece of real estate in the area and using it to exert economic and/or military pressure.

Why is this the most important piece of real estate in the area? China basically already owns the Maldives, which is even closer to the Gulf and other assets in the region than these islands. They've been moving into the Seychelles (ditto):

https://archive.ph/DnXI1

China doesn't need this piece of real estate. They benefit if the UK/US base is thrown out - not because they need to have this particular island. If they want to take the step of formally pressuring a nation in the area to lease them a military base abroad, they can do it elsewhere.

No doubt part of the reason why all these island nations are turning more towards Team China is because China is near and active, and the U.S. is far and (mostly) uninterested in them. But it's not helped when Western powers do things like the British are doing with the Chagos archipelago.

Falling Knives FAQ

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