New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet has made operational deployments of three of its ships in the South China Sea, a region where Beijing has territorial disputes with its neighbours.
INS Delhi, a guided missile destroyer is accompanied by the INS Shakti, a fleet tanker, and INS Kiltan, an anti-submarine warfare corvette. Led by Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankar, the ships reached Singapore Monday. In a press statement, the Indian Navy said that the warships were received by the personnel of the Republic of Singapore Navy and the High Commissioner of India in Singapore.
“This visit is poised to further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two maritime nations through a series of engagements and activities,” it added.
The deployment comes at a time when Yuan Wang 03, a Chinese missile and satellite tracking vessel, has entered the Indian Ocean Region.
Even as India does not have a direct stake in the region of South China Sea, it remains a concern for the Indian Navy due to Beijing’s dominance in the region. At an event in New Delhi in November last year, the then Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar had said the the situation in South China Sea was “fragile”, adding that the “violations of established Codes of Conduct or Confidence Building Measures, posed a clear and present danger to good order and discipline at sea.”
The dispute in South China Sea pertains to China claiming large swathes in the region, as demarcated by its ‘nine-dash line’.
China’s blanket claims are disputed by several countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. India has upped its defence ties with these countries, with the Philippine having become first international buyer of the shore-based, anti-ship variant of BrahMos missile.
Apart from being a major shipping route with trade worth trillions, the South China Sea is also home to rich fishing grounds. The region could become a global flashpoint in case tensions were to flare up.
During the stay of Indian warships at the harbour, various activities including interactions with the High Commission of India, professional interactions with the Republic of Singapore Navy are scheduled to take place. Indian Navy personnel will also be interacting with academia and community outreach amongst other activities.
The Indian Navy added that it has had robust relations with the Republic of Singapore Navy, spanning three decades of cooperation, coordination and collaboration with regular visits, exchange of best practices, and reciprocal training arrangements. The current deployment underscores the strong linkages between both the navies, it added.
Last year, in December, INS Kadmatt, as part of a Long Range Operational Deployment to the North Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, visited Thailand. At that time, it also docked in Manila, the Philippines.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
theprint.in
Will be interesting to see where they go after finishing up in Singapore. I'd bet Philippines is on the itinerary:
INS Delhi, a guided missile destroyer is accompanied by the INS Shakti, a fleet tanker, and INS Kiltan, an anti-submarine warfare corvette. Led by Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankar, the ships reached Singapore Monday. In a press statement, the Indian Navy said that the warships were received by the personnel of the Republic of Singapore Navy and the High Commissioner of India in Singapore.
“This visit is poised to further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two maritime nations through a series of engagements and activities,” it added.
The deployment comes at a time when Yuan Wang 03, a Chinese missile and satellite tracking vessel, has entered the Indian Ocean Region.
Even as India does not have a direct stake in the region of South China Sea, it remains a concern for the Indian Navy due to Beijing’s dominance in the region. At an event in New Delhi in November last year, the then Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar had said the the situation in South China Sea was “fragile”, adding that the “violations of established Codes of Conduct or Confidence Building Measures, posed a clear and present danger to good order and discipline at sea.”
The dispute in South China Sea pertains to China claiming large swathes in the region, as demarcated by its ‘nine-dash line’.
China’s blanket claims are disputed by several countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. India has upped its defence ties with these countries, with the Philippine having become first international buyer of the shore-based, anti-ship variant of BrahMos missile.
Apart from being a major shipping route with trade worth trillions, the South China Sea is also home to rich fishing grounds. The region could become a global flashpoint in case tensions were to flare up.
During the stay of Indian warships at the harbour, various activities including interactions with the High Commission of India, professional interactions with the Republic of Singapore Navy are scheduled to take place. Indian Navy personnel will also be interacting with academia and community outreach amongst other activities.
The Indian Navy added that it has had robust relations with the Republic of Singapore Navy, spanning three decades of cooperation, coordination and collaboration with regular visits, exchange of best practices, and reciprocal training arrangements. The current deployment underscores the strong linkages between both the navies, it added.
Last year, in December, INS Kadmatt, as part of a Long Range Operational Deployment to the North Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, visited Thailand. At that time, it also docked in Manila, the Philippines.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Three Indian Navy ships deployed to South China Sea
Deployment comes at a time when Yuan Wang 03, a Chinese missile and satellite tracking vessel, has entered Indian Ocean Region.
theprint.in
Will be interesting to see where they go after finishing up in Singapore. I'd bet Philippines is on the itinerary:
