Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has been caught fibbing about the arrival of a Chinese research vessel in the Maldives.

In an interview with Sidhant Sibal from India’s Wion News as part of his recent visit to the neighboring country, Minister Khaleel said that no Chinese research vessel had come to the Maldives when the interviewer sought a comment on the Chinese research vessel that traveled to the Maldives.

Providing a brief answer to the interviewer’s question, the Maldivian minister stated that a Chinese research vessel had not come to the Maldives, and that no such vessel had arrived.

A local media outlet reported that Xiang Yang Hong-3, a Chinese research vessel, was active in the Maldives for approximately a month starting 21 January 2024. Initially, the vessel was operational in the border area of the Maldives, at times crossing the Maldivian waters.

However, on 22 February 2024, it crossed the border and docked near Thilafushi. The government had also officially announced the vessel’s arrival, citing a change in crew members.

In a statement issued on 23 January 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the Chinese government has officially requested permission from the government of Maldives to dock in the Maldives to change the crew on board and replenish stocks. The ministry went on to reveal that the vessel will not conduct any research in the island nation.

The vessel remained near Thilafushi for about six days. However, it never fully left the Maldives. The vessel then moved to the border of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and before eventually leaving the area much later.