New Delhi is set to host a naval exercise next week with 23 participating nations including Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam – a move that is sure to agitate China.
Beijing has warned that the large war-game to be staged in the Indian Ocean – earmarked as a solid step to push the new Indo-Pacific co-defense strategy – could risk “spreading the Sino-Indian tensions from land to the sea”.
The Beijing-based Global Times has called for the Chinese military to stage a “tit-for-tat” response, such as a drill of similar size.
The biennial, eight-day exercise codenamed ‘Milan’ is being organized on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean from March 6.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, west of Chennai. The biennial naval exercise has been held nine times since 1995.
India will host navies from at least 16 countries for the drill “in the backdrop of China’s growing military posturing in the Indo-Pacific region,” the semi-official Press Trust of India has said.
The fact that navy chiefs and representatives of participating countries will discuss China’s military maneuvers in the South China Sea wil also irk Beijing.
The 16 nations include Australia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Vietnam, Thailand, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya and Cambodia, according to Indian Navy spokesman Captain DK Sharma.
Analysts say this is a rare event, possibly the first time that so many navies from the Asia-Pacific and far-flung regions will meet to hone skills together in the increasingly combustible Indian Ocean.
It comes amid speculation that these vast waters may replace the South China Sea as the next hotspot when an assertive Beijing seeks to project its might further beyond its borders.
Aside from the navies listed above, South Africa, the Philippines, Mozambique, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Timor Leste will also participate in patrol exercises, maritime rescue and other humanitarian missions.
Not long after China and India pulled troops away from the Doklam plateau to stop a border standoff from escalating into a regional war, India launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in January, making no bones that it “could reach the northernmost parts of China with its strike range of over 5,000 kilometers.” One month later, the nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile was tested in the eastern state of Odisha.
“India is provoking China,” Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, claimed in the People’s Daily.
“China should respond militarily to send the message that it’s prepared to go to the stakes when it comes to safeguarding its own legitimate interests,” he said.
His remarks echo a recent PLA Daily editorial that in 2018 the force should go hold drills and beef up its presence in places that the Chinese navy and air force have seldom been before. The PLA Navy traditionally holds exercises in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea but “expect more sights of Chinese warships in other parts of the globe,” the op-ed said.
What is the use of naval ships in peace time? Is it for show for visiting dignitaries? It is so critical to train men in use and familiarity of weapons of war to be ready in times of need. That is why all these combined exercises!
Why should China bitching about imaginary enemies ? Why China doesn’t hold these exercises with her friends, and clients like Pakistan, Maldives etc?
This writing is about nothing but pure speculation. It is more about instigating discord. Besides, some of China´s bussiness partners are involved on this drill.
So, in terms of worrying about it. I don{´t think it makes sense to say China is worried.. I think is all the way arounfd where India worries and feels jealous about China. Perhaps it ihas something to do with at one point that in the recent past both countries were economically at almost the same level. Actually, India was ahead of China. But as we all know now things started changing in the 90´s for China. To the level that China has become the 2nd economical power in the world and she is moving rapidly on the footsteps of USA. She may take the lead in a decade or so. On the other hand, for a couple of years India´s economy looked promising and seemed moving in the right direction but lately the economy seems running with so many obstacles that it has slowed down greatly.
Sometimes, I wonder about some of the writers from this news network. They would write about speculations or provide fake news as credible facts. I guess they get paid well to do it
If you do not halve alternative motive, why do you care?
The embedded editors and CIA agents operate according to the latest CIA dossier. The agents pose as Indians, Vietnamese, Philippines, Chinese etc. to sow discord. Hence everyone should ignore the outrageous insults, bluster, etc on this site. This is US soft power as they imagine it so but it does not stand the light of truth, tolerance, compassion and decency.
Its wise for India not to invite Chinese Navy, because that will freak out the West.
Those US Navy accidents were more effective than counter demonstrations.
Ken Nguyen you communist thinking is one reason why the earth go war.china provoke war by claiming whole china sea and he should not intrude india for what they want to do to protect them self. Time will come china will fall and the u.s. will regain his power for better wolrd.
This author is perpetuating the widely-held myth promoted by the Indian government and media that Chinese troops pulled out of Donglang after the Chinese-Indian standoff there last year. As the Chinese government quickly pointed out, they did not leave the area. The Indian troops left but they didn’t, and now the Chinese troops have ensured that Indian troops cannot trespass into the area again. The fact that Bhutan hasn’t objected to this status quo goes a long way to demonstrating that they don’t mind, despite the claims of the Indian government.
China is suffering from paranoid disorder ICD-10…????
Ibarra Suerte Felipe: USA never lost its power. News say china is surrounded by 400 US Army bases. US missiles are pointed at China from Okinawa to southern Korea. US Army bases are encircling china with missiles, warships, Bombers all the way from Australia through the Pacific to Asia and beyond. US naval forces are on the door step of China. Soon US warships will be able to land in Taiwan (right in china’s backyard). While china poses no demonstrable threat to US. There are no Chinese Army bases close to US
I wonder if you even know what that Doklam issue was all about? India never objected to Chinese troops patrolling the area. India objected to the Chinese Army road building project close to India border (chicken’s neck). China agreed to abandon the road construction project that’s why Indian soldiers retreated. Indian & Chinese soldiers have been patrolling the area for a decade
Why don’t you postnunder your Chinese name? You ignorant buffoon. You going to get banged by USA economically and militarily.
That’s all you’ve got? Accuse an informed Canadian of being Chinese? You’re go-to response when you’ve got nothing useful to say is to be racist, and being racist no less by incorrectly assuming my race?! That is simply the most pathetic thing I’ve heard in a long time.
Bipin Shah weed smoker, Why not ask the small countries in your neighborhood?
Lol. That is BJP thinking. The neighbors count on BJP to Balkanize India.
With Xi making himself a permanent/ indefinite leader China will further go down with their economically harebrained Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the complete lack of economic analyses and looks far less grounded in economic or political reality. Being a global actor and global power is different. China is a global actor as it is but not yet fully influential on the events of other nations. It has a wide presence but a shallow global impact including in south asia. China is only one of the emerging powers of the world and its power is partial. To flourish as a successful global power, China will have to first learn global responsibilities. China must not to forget, the harder the authoritarianism, the closer its decline.
the bully chinks must take its own bitter medicines. thanks India
Absolute non sense. MAURITIUS, Seychelles don’t even have a navy.
Well, China is demonstrating not matter what political system you have on your country that she will not telll you what to do. She has demonstrated it time after time. That is why many countries appreciate what she does. The opposite is with some Western Countries when they go around the world . Their carry their flag of ¨democracy¨¨ displayed as their ultimate symbolic emblem and march to the attack. This is just the same way when they went to the Crusades. The only difference this time is their flag does not display a cross or gallop on a horse..
Lol, Indian will defend you like they did to Sikkim.
Jason Jean: Tibetans setting themselves on fire trying to get rid of China. Matter of fact bunch of Tibetans set themselves on fire in New Delhi, India in order to get international attention. CNBC/ china denies harvesting organs but evidence belies it’s claim". Several Chinese people escaped from China and were distributing flyers in Australia, UK and demanding why this world is quiet about Chinese govt atrocities on its own people. Chinese govt doesn’t execute the murderers & rapists only, majority of people who get executed are either completely innocent or political prisoners. News also say "7,8,9 months pregnant women abducted in china, tied to the tables & getting abortion. So you mean to say CNN, CNBC, ABC news, independent.co.uk, world’s top news agencies are spreading false rumors against Chinese govt without any evidence? Wow. This world is so crucial
Beto Perez In South East Asia, North East Asia China & South Asia still exercises the hegmony and blackmails the free nations with nuclear bombs through proxies of North Korea & Pakistan. Authoritarianism in China through Xi will be the downfall of China.
Low Shen-Cheang LOL! Xi’s authoritarian China is a happy place than India; how about let the common chinese comeout in open through open & transparent internet access or without the Police/ military control conduct a referendum whether they still want Xi as their leader! Insecure inferiority complex infected Chinese polit bureau is moving towards its downfall with Xis indefinite presidency!
Are you sure? What about fast patrol boats supplied from China for free? Nearly 500 years lago Chinese eunuch admiral Zeng He supposedly planted Chinese flag on these islands.
Thank you for helping the Filipino people, save us from our President who is allied with China.
Jo Snow Philippines 75% of population hates chinazi only 7% dutertards, duterte and its cabinet loves them. time will come we will gladly sample one of their kind when war erupts.
Dear Boy,
For some reason you are discussing a state which does not exist and which was never recognized by a single country as existing. But for some reason you think your flight of fancy is on par with the reality of the province of Xinjiang.
So…the fact that you personally know some "dissidents" means that all Uighurs want independence? You should go to the Canadian province of Quebec! Roughly 30-40% of the population wants independence from Canada. You would have no problem finding them and you could declare a country called "Quebec Land"! You could also claim that because you’ve met some independence-minded Quebecers that all the people of Quebec want independence. I also know for a fact that you could find some which would claim that they are repressed. That would make the same amount of sense as this conversation.
If you honestly think that anyone can be told what to think then I have no idea what to tell you other than, it doesn’t work. As for extra security, there are terrorists killing innocent civilians. Obviously you think this must be a great thing or you would understand attempts made to prevent it.
Additionally, it is COMMON for Uighurs to turn in terrorists. They do it regularly. That’s partially the reason why they are so unsuccessful. So your strange claim that all Uighurs support independence is nonsense.
As for your dramatic final claim, you could make the same claim about the U.S. government. Go read over the Patriot Act and how it has influenced the freedoms that Americans enjoy. Dramatic overgeneralizations are the bread and butter of anti-China rhetoraticians.