New Delhi: To expand its security ties with friendly neighbours, India is sending a naval task force to the South China Sea later this month. Playing a major role in countering China after clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley last year.
India is also pulling America closer in an effort to counter China.
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“The deployment of Indian Navy ships seeks to underline operational access, peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries to ensure good order in the maritime domain…” the Navy said according to Reuters.
In a statement, the Navy said the four ships, including a guided missile destroyer and a missile frigate, will be deployed in Southeast Asia, the South China Sea and the Western Pacific for a period of two months.
The resource-rich waters of the South China Sea have been a subject of dispute between China and the United States. China has in the past drawn criticism for its multilateral military maneuvers for destabilizing the region.
“These maritime initiatives enhance synergy and coordination between the Indian Navy and friendly countries, based on a commitment to common maritime interests and freedom of navigation at sea,” the Indian Navy statement was quoted by Reuters.
The Navy said that India will participate in the annual joint warfare exercise involving the United States, Japan and Australia off the coast of Guam.
Recently, the Biden administration said that the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have come to an in-principle agreement to create a new quadrilateral diplomatic forum aimed at improving regional connectivity.
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