India, US, Japan Naval Drills Begins, Irks China
India, Japan and the United States kicked off the first joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal in eight years and such drills will occur each year, Indian government sources said.
The Japanese Maritime-Self Defense Force (JMSF) confimed that it will Permanently Join US-India Naval Exercises. An announcement will be made shortly re-designating what had hitherto been officially an Indian-U.S. bilateral military exercise into a trilateral India-U.S.-Japan event, according to the Business Standard.
While Japan’s participation is not new—the JMSF have joined in 2007, 2009, and 2014 respectively—it will be the first time that the Japanese Navy will not be a foreign invitee but rather a permanent member of the annual trilateral naval drill.
Reacting sharply to arch rival Japan joining the 'Malabar' naval exercises being held by the Indian and US navies in the Bay of Bengal, China today said it is not "that fragile" to be affected by the trilateral drills, reports PTI.
"You mentioned India is having naval exercises with US and Japan and you ask whether China is concerned. I think you are thinking too much," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying shot back when asked for China's reaction to the exercises which are due to start today in the Bay of Bengal.
While China had in the past objected strongly to India including Japan in its annual naval Exercise Malabar with the US, now Hua said, "We are not that fragile. We are having both sound relations with India and the US, and we hope relevant countries will contribute to regional stability and contribute more positive energy to that."
The last time New Delhi hosted multilateral drills in its waters in 2007 prompted disquiet in China where some saw it as a US -inspired security grouping on the lines of NATO in Europe.
But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled a more robust security policy, seeking stronger strategic ties with the United States and Japan while keeping a lid on border tensions with China.
Malabar 2015, held from October 14 to 19, will feature ten warships. The U.S. Navy’s fleet will include the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS City of Corpus Christi, and the new littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth, as well as a Ticonderoga-class destroyer.
The Indian Navy will dispatch a Rajput-class destroyer, a Brahmaputra-class frigate, a Shivalik-class frigate, a fleet support ship and a Sindhughosh-class diesel-electric submarine. India and the United States will also each field one P-8 Maritime Surveillance aircraft.
Japan will only participate with the Akizuki-class destroyer Fuyuzuki, commissioned in March 2014. The Fuyuzuki is specifically designed for anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare and is also capable of engaging airborne threats.
