A political crisis in the Maldives, a nation of tiny islands in the Indian Ocean, might seem inconsequential. But given the country’s strategic location and China’s growing influence, President Abdulla Yameen’s moves to dominate the judiciary and stifle the opposition deserve wider attention. This month the Supreme Court overturned verdicts against nine opposition figures, including former President Mohamed Nasheed, and reinstated 12 opposition members of parliament. President Yameen promptly declared a state of emergency...

Source: Wall Street Journal February 19, 2018 19:41 UTC