In a historic move, India has sent a destroyer and guided missile stealth frigate to the South China Sea for a first-of-its-kind maritime exercise with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The exercise, which was initiated on Tuesday, began with the harbour phase at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, with warships from participating nations scheduled to enter the South China Sea on Sunday.
While India has sent warships to the South China Sea in the past, this marks the first joint naval exercise with the ASEAN grouping. This move comes as several ASEAN nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have maritime disputes with China and have been steadily increasing defence cooperation with India.
The naval exercise, which is being called the Asean-India Maritime Exercise, was inaugurated by Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar during his official visit to Singapore. Rear Admiral Sean Wat, chief of Singapore Navy, also participated in the inauguration.
India's first indigenously built destroyer INS Delhi and indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate INS Satpura have already arrived in Singapore for the exercise. Additionally, the highly capable P8I Maritime Patrol aircraft will also take part in the exercise. The Indian ships are from the eastern fleet based at Visakhapatnam.
This move by India is seen as a major shift in the country's foreign policy towards the South China Sea. While India has maintained that it does not take sides in the ongoing territorial disputes in the region, this exercise with the ASEAN nations is being seen as a clear message to China.
This joint exercise is also significant in terms of defence cooperation between India and the ASEAN nations. India has been increasing its defence ties with several countries in the region, and this exercise is expected to further strengthen these ties.
In conclusion, the joint maritime exercise between India and ASEAN in the South China Sea is a significant development in the region. It not only sends a message to China but also strengthens India's ties with its neighbours. As India continues to play a more active role in the region, it will be interesting to see how this move impacts the ongoing geopolitical situation in the South China Sea.
