China asks Maldives to probe 'fabricated' allegations of newspaper funding

China on Sunday requested the Maldivian government to investigate what it called as "vicious attacks" involving "false" allegations concerning China's relationship with the Maldives especially amid the ongoing presidential election campaign. 

In a statement posted on X, the Chinese embassy in Male said it noticed "some vicious attacks against China by a few media persons, which are totally fabricated only to smear China" and undermine China-Maldives friendly relations.

"China always follows the policy of non-interference into other countries’ internal affairs. What we have done in Maldives is only to help its economic and social development, from which the local people have benefited a lot. It's believed that the Maldivian people will not be misled by the fake news," the statement read.

"We have requested the Maldivian government to thoroughly investigate into those fabricators. Their attempts to undermine the China-Maldives friendship will be doomed to failure."

The statement comes hours after social media activists aligned with the ruling MDP said on X that China had provided funding to an opposition-aligned newspaper in Maldives ahead of the presidential election. 

Official results of the presidential election on September 9 show main opposition PPM-PNC's Dr Mohamed Muizz leading the polls with 46%, while President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih secured 39%.