Acting swiftly after the Galwan Valley violent clash on June 15 in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Navy has dispatched its frontline warship for deployment in the South China Sea much to the displeasure of the Chinese who raised objections over the move during the talks between the two sides. The Chinese have been objecting to the presence of Indian Navy Ships in the region where it has significantly expanded its presence since 2009 through artificial islands and heavy military presence.
"We have deployed a frontline warship in the South China Sea region where the People's Liberation Army's Navy have been opposing and complaining against the presence of Indian warships and claims the majority of the waters as part of its territory," top government sources told in a statement.
The Indian warship is constantly maintaining contact with their American counterparts who were operating on the other edge of the South China Sea, much to the chagrin of China. For the Chinese government, the South China Sea holds an important place and they don't like the presence of any other countries' warships in the disputed region.
Sources said that the Indian side, while deploying its warship in the South China Sea region, was very clear that in view of the rising hostilities in the eastern Ladakh sector there was the possibility that the Chinese might stop them from doing so. The deployment by the Indian Navy has infuriated the Chinese government. In one round of diplomatic talks between India and China, the Chinese side complained about the presence of the warship in the disputed region.
For the Chinese government, the South China Sea holds an important place and they don't like the presence of any other countries' warships in the disputed region. Sources said that the Indian side, while deploying its warship in the South China Sea region, was very clear that in view of the rising hostilities in the eastern Ladakh sector there was the possibility that the Chinese might stop them from doing so.
Around the same time, the Indian Navy had deployed its frontline vessels along the Malacca Straits near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the route from where the Chinese Navy enters the Indian Ocean Region to keep a check on any activity of the Chinese Navy. A number of Chinese vessels also pass through the Malacca Straits while returning with oil or taking merchant shipments towards other continents.
The Indian Navy is fully capable of checking any misadventure by the adversaries on either the eastern or the western front and the mission-based deployments have helped it control the emerging situations effectively in and around the Indian Ocean Region.
The Navy also has plans to urgently acquire and deploy autonomous underwater vessels and other unmanned systems and sensors to keep a close eye on the movement of PLA Navy from Malacca Straits towards the Indian Ocean Region, the sources said. The Navy is also taking care of the Chinese vessels present around the Djibouti area and has deployed its assets in the vicinity for protecting national interest.
The Navy has also deployed its MiG-29K fighter aircraft at an important Air Force base where they are practicing missions for conflict over land and mountainous terrain, the sources said. The Navy is also going to fast track the procurement of 10 Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Vehicles under a deal expected to be worth over Rs 1,245 crore.