CHENNAI: India, the United States and Japan have downplayed the tri-nation joint Exercise Malabar 2017, held in the backdrop of India and China’s standoff over the disputed Doklam Plateau bordering Sikkim and Bhutan as well as the missile crisis sparked off by North Korea.
Indian Navy’s Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, flag officer commanding-in-chief Eastern Naval Command and Rear Admiral William D Bryne, Jr, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, downplayed the queries on the significance of the naval exercise stating that the entire exercise didn’t target China or any other country, nor is it connected to the border standoff in any way.“It is an exercise to enhance interoperability between the navies of India, US and Japan. It is to learn from each other’s experiences,” said Bisht.
Bryne, who was the commander of US Naval Forces Korea, before assuming the command of Carrier Strike Group last year, said that Malabar 2017 is not intended to send any messages. He said the exercise is to cut down the risk of miscalculations.To a query over reports that China is snooping on Malabar exercises, Bisht said that India has adequate mechanisms available to trace the movement of Chinese warships and submarines.
Commander Hirotaka Okumura of Japanese warship Sazanami refused to comment on the tensions between Beijing and Tokyo after a Chinese warship sailed within 24 miles of contested islands in the East China Sea for the first time.However, he said that Japan is sending, for the first time, its two-year-old helicopter destroyer JS Izumo for participation in Malabar 2017.The vessel, which will be equipped with SH60Ks helicopters, is capable of anti-submarine warfare and has been rated highly by defence experts.
Bisht also rejected reports that India has rejected a request from Australia to take part in the multilateral Malabar naval exercises. “The joint naval exercise with Australia is happening and even two weeks back there was a joint exercise with the Australian Navy,” he said.