The Maldives, a republic of 185 islands home to 550,000 people, has made the most of its geographic location to become a well-liked tourism destination during the past 50 years. Recent events demonstrate the Maldives' dramatic change in foreign policy. Though the scenario may be best understood as representing a smaller state's unease with a revived age of strategic rivalry, a desire to broaden its range of relationships, and an atmosphere of heightened nationalism, the leadership shift is sometimes presented as a zero-sum, pro-China turn. This will be an experiment since the Maldives' security forces will need more capability to carry out independent missions including hydrography, medical evacuation, and marine surveillance. The most recent catalyst was the use of crude language by Maldivian officials against Indians in general and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular. President Mohamed Muizzu's new administration requested that India remove its military soldiers, and he made China the destination of one of his first foreign trips. During his visit, Maldives President Muizzu also exhorts China to retake the top rank in tourist arrivals, which India has been holding for the past few years.