China dismissed accusations from the former leader of the Maldives that it is attempting to effectively buy up the Indian Ocean island state, while the Maldives said on Thursday it was sending envoys to three countries to explain its ongoing political crisis.

Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Chinese economic assistance came without political conditions and called recent remarks by exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed "totally groundless."

"China's aid to the Maldives has no political strings attached and does not harm the Maldives' sovereignty and independence at all, still less jeopardize security in the Indian Ocean," Geng said at a regularly scheduled news conference.

Nasheed is wrapped up in the political turmoil that has swept the archipelago nation since the Supreme Court ordered his release in absentia as well as the release of other several jailed opposition leaders.

That prompted President Yameen Abdul Gayoom to reject the order and declare a 15-day state of emergency this week in which two of the justices were arrested.

Nasheed, meanwhile, sought aid from neighbouring India earlier this week, asking it to intervene in the crisis that erupted on February 1 with the Supreme Court ruling.

Since the detentions, the three Supreme Court justices who were not arrested have annulled the court's order to free the imprisoned opposition politicians.

The United Nations, India and other foreign governments have expressed concern over the state of emergency and have urged Yameen to respect the earlier court order.