India starts withdrawing troops from Maldives

India has started evacuating military soldiers operating surveillance aircraft in the Maldives. 

Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives manning the operations of a helicopter left the country after handing over the operations of the chopper to an Indian civilian crew, the Maldivian media reported on Monday.

President Mohamed Muizzu, who is largely perceived to be pro-China, had implemented the phased evacuation. He came to power in September and it was his election promise that the Indian troops would be removed. 

China said on Tuesday that it supports the Maldives in safeguarding its sovereignty.