India China faceoff: Without geopolitical interest attached to our assistance to disaster hit nations, India has time and again earned the reputation of a responsible world power. This was witnessed during the recent earthquake that hit Turkey and earlier in the form of Vaccine Maitri. Similar has been the case when nations face other existential threats like the territorial hunger of our Northern neighbour China, both in land or waters and both in Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
India challenges China in its maritime backyard
Amidst the growing hostilities in the South China sea, Indian submarine INS Sindhukesari recently docked in the Indonesian waters. As a result, INS Sindhukesari has become the first Indian submarine to dock in Indonesia.
The long-term mission underscores the capabilities of the Indian Navy. Additionally, it is a part of India’s diplomatic and military outreach towards the ASEAN countries.
With steps like these, India has expanded its defence cooperation with the ASEAN countries. The significance of this development increases manifold as it coincides with the increased rhetoric and hostility by China. The communist regime has been threatening the sovereignty of the small island nations over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea region.
INS Sindhukesari is a 3,000-ton conventional diesel-electric submarine. It travelled across the nearby Sunda Strait before finally docking in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. This exercise was a part of INS Sindhukesari’s maiden operational turnaround.
Through its official twitter handle, the Indonesian Navy welcomed the arrival of the Indian submarine INS Sindhukesari.
Pererat Hubungan Bilateral, TNI AL Sambut Hangat Kedatangan Kapal Selam India INS Shindukesari Di Jakartahttps://t.co/LekzCmXZ6H#jalesvevajayamahe #tnial #muhammadali #laksamanamuhammadali #indonesiannavy #tnialrumahpancasila #tnialrumahtoleransi #tnialrumahnusantara pic.twitter.com/MRJsOFsUcD
— TNI Angkatan Laut (@_TNIAL_) February 22, 2023
India’s counter to Chinese expansionist manoeuvres
The docking of INS Sindhukesari is seen as an assertive move by the Indian Navy. Just a few weeks earlier, a Chinese coast guard vessel violated the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Indonesia and conducted patrolling drills in the Natuna Sea, part of Indonesia’s EEZ.
China is notorious for making blind claims over any random territory that can have an abundance of resources. The exact same things are happening in the South China Sea where China claims many sovereign territories of these small island nations.
In addition to INS Sindhukesari, the US has also positioned its aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to challenge the repeated incursion by the Chinese Navy.
Also Read: India is ready to lock horns with China in the Indo-Pacific
Prior to this submarine deployment, India gave operational training to 21 Philippine personnel on the technical know-how of the soon-to-be-exchanged BrahMos cruise missiles between the two countries. As part of an ambitious $375 million deal, India will provide three shore-based anti-ship BrahMos batteries to the Philippines.
This is a stern message to the Chinese Navy that as a responsible World Power, India will stand firm with its partners even in the South China Sea, not metaphorically but literally with our Naval Power.
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