Ladakh Standoff: Indian Navy Deploys Warship In South China Sea 2 Months After Galwan Valley Clash

The immediate deployment of the Indian Navy warship in the South China Sea had a desired effect on the Chinese Navy and security establishment as they complained to the Indian side about the Indian warship's presence.

(Representative Image/ AFP)

New Delhi: Almost two and a half months after the Galwan Valley clash which led to death of as many as 20 Indian soldiers in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Navy has recently sailed one of its frontline warship to the South China sea. As per reports, the move by Indian Navy came as a displeasure to the Chinese side who raised objection over the development during the talks between two nations. According to a report by news agency ANI, Beijing has been objecting to the presence of Indian Navy ships in the South China sea where it has significantly expanded its base since 2009 through artificial islands and military presence. "Soon after the Galwan clash broke out in which 20 of our soldiers were killed, the Indian Navy deployed one of its frontline warship to the South China Sea where the People's Liberation Army's Navy objects to the presence of any other force claiming the majority of the waters as part of its territory," government sources close to the development told the news agency. The immediate deployment of the Indian Navy warship in the South China Sea had a desired effect on the Chinese Navy and security establishment as they complained to the Indian side about the Indian warship's presence there during the diplomatic level talks with the Indian side, the sources said. During the deployment in the South China Sea, where the American Navy had also deployed its destroyers and frigates, the Indian warship was continuously maintaining contact with their American counterparts over secure communication systems, the sources informed. It is also being said that the Indian Navy has increased deployment of warships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) since the border tensions with China began. Some estimates indicate that the increase is almost 25 per cent. Indian Navy has also 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. The sources also said 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 to control the emerging situations effectively in and around the IOR. After Chinese People Liberation Army's activities in eastern Ladakh increased in the months of May and June, culminating in June 15 clashes in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, the chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force are meeting on a daily basis to coordinate the joint response. Since then, the Indian Navy has been at the forefront of strategic signalling to the Chinese forces. The Indian Navy conducted four joint exercises with foreign navies during the Galwan crisis to signal intent to the Chinese Communist Party Navy. Reports also say that the Indian Navy is now set to induct the carrier-borne strike aircraft Mig-29K to fly combat air patrols along with Indian Air Force jets in Ladakh - a credit to the joint pilot training programme of the Indian armed forces.