India, China,& Japan agree to better coordination in their anti-piracy operations.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Indian Defence Minister AK Anthony said that India, China and Japan had recently agreed better coordination amongst their naval ships deployed for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. The coordination plan implemented designates each naval presence a 'Reference Navy' for a three-month period which, in advance, will advise its escort patrol schedule in order achieve more efficient deployment of the warships. The 'Reference Navy' is to be rotated every three months in alphabetical order of the participants.