India sends warships to South China Sea to boost military ties with 'friendly countri

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India sends warships to South China Sea to boost military ties with 'friendly countries'
By: Jean Chien Tay - Mothership News - 08-05-21
Re: https://mothership.sg/2021/08/india-...uth-china-sea/

The move is seen as a measure to counter Chinese presence in the region.
Photo link: https://static.mothership.sg/1/2021/...oject-27-1.jpg

India has announced plans to send its navy warships to the South China Sea in order to "enhance military cooperation with friendly countries".

Move to counter China's influence?

The country mentioned in a statement issued on Aug. 2 that this latest commitment is in line with its "Act East" policy.

The move signifies its intention to play a bigger role in countering China's presence in the region, according to Reuters.

It is understood that the Indian Navy unit will participate in bilateral exercises with Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia.

They will also be part of a multilateral drills that involve U.S., Japan, and Australia.

Together, they are known as the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), an informal grouping first initiated in 2007, and later revived by former U.S. President Trump as part of a strategy to counter China's influence.

Navy drills amid rising India-China tensions

While India has always tried to avoid moves that may provoke China, especially when it comes to the South China Sea, the latest development took place following last year's border skirmishes with China.

In January, India banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps permanently, citing non-compliance on privacy and security policies, Nikkei Asia reported.

Since then, New Delhi appeared to have increasingly aligned itself with the U.S., in a bid to join efforts in countering Chinese presence in the region.

Tension in the South China Sea
China has publicly criticised multilateral military exercises in the region as destabilising, with the U.S. slamming China's flights in the region as destabilising as well.

The U.S. continues to refute China's unilateral territorial claims in the resource-rich region -- China stakes claim to as much as 90 per cent of the South China Sea with its "nine-dash line".

In recent weeks, there has been an increase in naval activity in the South China Sea.

A British aircraft carrier entered the waters on July 27, while an American surface action group and forces from China's People's Liberation Army staged exercises there, according to CNN.

Germany joined other Western states in making its regional presence known as well, by sending a warship to the waters for the first time in almost two decades, Reuters reported.

China had requested the German warship to clarify its intentions in traveling through the South China Sea, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Despite the increase in multinational naval activity, however, experts don't necessarily think that the latest move is a cause for alarm.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, pointed out that India's move is simply part of its annual deployment as part of its Look East policy.

He further told CNN that he doesn't expect the Indian vessels to be confrontational, adding that their mere presence in the waters represent India's intention to remain engaged in the West Pacific.

India aims to strengthen its bonds in the region
The Indian Navy has outlined the intended outcomes of the deployment in their statement, which includes "peaceful presence and solidarity with friendly countries", in order to ensure "good order" in the seas.

The navy also seeks to strengthen existing bonds between India and countries of the Indo Pacific.

The statement further highlighted India's regular presence in regional exercises and their commitment towards "Freedom of Navigation" at sea.

Four ships including a guided missile destroyer and a missile frigate will be deployed for a two-month period to Southeast Asia, the South China Sea and the western Pacific, the navy said.

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Personal note: It seems other Nation's are taking sides to show resistance to the power plays being made currently in the world today. Also sending message's that they will entertain resistance to such maneuver's.
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