Japan Navy to join India, US in Bay of Bengal

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...necessary-to-face-china-scholars_1983778.html

Washington: Cooperation between India, the United States and Japan is necessary to face the Chinese assertiveness in the strategic Indian Ocean and Pacific regions, a group of Indian and American scholars have said.

The scholars during a day-long conference here on Friday agreed that cooperation between the two countries, as well as with Japan, "will determine the parameters of security" in the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions in the face of an assertive China.

China has taken an increasingly hardline stance in its territorial disputes in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own.

The subject was discussed at the conference on the future of US-India relations under the Trump administration, organised by the Hudson Institute and the New Delhi-based Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).

The two conservative thinktanks have close ties with the Trump administration and the Modi government respectively.

The discussion, closed for the media, focused on India-US strategic ties in both the security and economic realms.

In the security arena, participants discussed ways to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. In the economic field, the deliberation focused on potential policies from both sides to boost trade and cooperation, a media release said.

The conference was inaugurated by Kenneth Weinstein, President and CEO of the Hudson Institute and former Indian Army chief Gen (retd) NC Vij, Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation (CIF).

In addition to Gen Vij, the VIF delegation comprised former foreign secretary and Dean of the Centre for International Relations and Diplomacy, at the VIF, former Deputy Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen (retd) Ravi Sawhney, Lt Gen (retd) Davinder Kumar and Harinder Sekhon.

Hudson scholars included Michael Pillsbury, Husain Haqqani, Eric Brown, Douglas Feith and Aparna Pande.


First Published: Sunday, March 5, 2017 - 20:35

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/world/japan-india-to-strengthen-defence-cooperation-4646644/

Japan and India affirmed today plans to strengthen their military cooperation amid rising tension in the Asian region.

Indian Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told his Japanese counterpart, Tomomi Inada, in Tokyo that his country hopes to pursue a strategic partnership with Japan for regional peace and stability.

His visit comes at a time of rising tension in the region, including territorial rows in the South China Sea and nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

Jaitley welcomed a planned trilateral naval exercise among the US, India and Japan in July as a way of strengthening cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.

“This is all reflective of the level of cooperation our armed forces have with each other,” he said.

Japan and India have been stepping up defence cooperation amid China’s increased assertiveness in the region.

China has long been wary of joint maritime exercises between India and the United States.

Japan, a staunch US ally that hosts about 50,000 American troops, has in recent years developed military cooperation with other countries, including Australia, France, Britain and the Philippines.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sought to expand Japan’s defence role and capability amid security concerns over China and North Korea.

Jaitley, who is also India’s finance minister, visited Japan to attend an annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank that ended yesterday.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...osal-for-naval-drill-china-happy-2010783.html
Beijing: A day after a report suggested that India has rejected Australia's request to participate in joint naval exercises with the United States of America and Japan, China on Wednesday said it was "happy" to know about that.

News agency Reuters had yesterday reported that Australia formally wrote to the Indian Defence Ministry in January asking if it could send naval ships to join the July wargames as an observer, in what military experts saw as a step toward eventual full participation.

Four officials from India, Australia, and Japan told Reuters that India blocked the proposal and suggested that Canberra sends officers to watch the exercises in the Bay of Bengal from the decks of the three participating countries` warships, instead.


On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said: "I have seen the relevant report. I think India is also clear about the consideration behind this behaviour.”

"We are happy to see no more dialogue and communication on security issues," a smiling Hua said in an obvious reference to Australia.

"But we also hope that when conducting such operations the parties can fully consider the security concerns of the relevant parties and also play a positive and constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability," Hua added.

China has been expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean, causing concern to India.

As a counter to China`s growing influence, India has been holding the naval drill `Malabar` with Japan and the US.

China has been wary of the exercise and Australia`s entry into the drill would have added to its worry.

The Reuters report yesterday said New Delhi was worried that China will step up activities in the Indian Ocean where it is building infrastructure in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, feeding India`s anxiety about being encircled, Indian military sources and diplomats said.

(With Agency inputs)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...s-and-japan/story-CfS6FoeJbzWnLFz2QnCpgI.html

Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean has recorded a significant increase ahead of the Malabar naval exercise involving India, the United States and Japan. The Indian Navy has sighted more than a dozen Chinese warships, including submarines, destroyers and intelligence-gathering vessels, in the Indian Ocean during the last two months, government sources said.

The 10-day naval drills will begin in north Indian Ocean on July 10. More than 20 warships will take part in the exercise, including US Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, Indian carrier INS Vikramaditya and Japanese Izumo-class helicopter carrier.

The naval drill will be bigger and more complex than all previous editions. China has been suspicious of the trilateral engagement and has even lodged protests over Japan’s participation in the past.

A Chinese intelligence gathering ship, Haiwingxing, is understood to have sailed into the ocean in June-end. Strategic experts linked the Haiwingxing’s deployment to the forthcoming naval exercise. The navy’s satellites, surveillance planes and surface warships have also sighted Luyang III class destroyers, hydrographic research vessels and tankers. The presence of a submarine in the region has been confirmed by the presence of Chongmingdao, a Chinese navy submarine support vessel, the sources said.

Anti-piracy patrols and freedom of navigation are the reasons cited by China for its increased presence in the Indian Ocean, forcing New Delhi to tighten surveillance of the strategic waters, government officials said.

The deployment of Chinese naval units in the Indian Ocean is being closely monitored by the Indian Navy amid Beijing’s increased forays into the region.

“Chinese activity in the Indian Ocean has touched a new high in recent months. We are using our surveillance assets quite extensively to monitor their movement,” a navy source told HT on Wednesday.

The sightings assume significance as the two militaries are in a three-week-long standoff at an India-China-Bhutan tri-junction close to the Sikkim border.

Beijing has raised the pitch and its media are warning of a war, demanding India withdraw its troops from the Doklam, a disputed region.

The Chinese deployment in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s most important shipping routes, accounts for four to five warships at any given time.

The periodic rotation of these units gave the Chinese navy the opportunity to deploy a variety of assets in the region, officials said. “Chinese submarines have been spotted in the region. Such assets are not used for anti-piracy operations. They are clearly making their presence felt in the region,” a naval officer said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media.

The Indian Navy has been present in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008 and so far, 64 warships have been involved in anti-piracy operations.

India has one warship in the area at any given time. Navy data shows that Indian warships have so far made 41 interventions in the Gulf of Aden, a natural sea link between the Arabian peninsula and the Horn of Africa, and escorted 3,765 ships, including 394 Indian-flagged vessels. It has also apprehended 120 pirates and rescued 74 fishermen.

The officials said China has been deploying submarines in the Gulf of Aden regularly since 2014. “The pattern is they deploy a submarine for three months followed by a three-month break,” the officials said.

The imminent commissioning of a Chinese base and support facility at Djibouti in Horn of Africa will boost Beijing’s ability to sustain naval units in the Indian Ocean.

Sources said Chinese navy research vessels have been mapping the region for both military and economic purposes.

China has stepped up activities in the Indian Ocean where it is building ports and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Indian Ocean figures prominently in President Xi Jinping’s ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative to build a new Silk Route.

New Delhi is buying 22 Guardian unarmed drones from the US to keep a close watch on the Indian Ocean. The purchase cleared by the US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the US has caused unease in China.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
10-July, 2017 13:38 IST
Exercise Malabar Commences in Bay of Bengal/ North Indian Ocean

Naval co-operation between India, US and Japan epitomises the strong and resilient relationship between the three democracies. The MALABAR series of exercises, initiated in 1992 between the Indian and US Navies, have steadily grown in scope, complexity and participation into a multifaceted exercise with the participation of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).


The 21st edition of the exercise, MALABAR-17 will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 10 to 17 July 2017. The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the three navies as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. The scope of MALABAR-17 includes wide-ranging professional interactions during the Harbour Phase at Chennai from 10 to 13 July 2017 and a diverse range of operational activities at sea during the Sea Phase from 14 to 17 July 17. The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Aircraft Carrier operations, Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Search and Rescue, Joint Manoeuvres and Tactical procedures. In addition, officials from the three countries will be flown onboard the ships at sea on 15 July 2017.


The Indian Navy will be represented by the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya with its air wing, guided missile destroyer Ranvir, indigenous stealth frigates Shivalik and Sahyadri, indigenous ASW corvette Kamorta, missile corvettes Kora and Kirpan, one Sindhughosh class submarine, fleet tanker INS Jyoti and Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I.



The US Navy will be represented by the ships from the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and other units from the US 7th Fleet. The US Navy forces will include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Nimitz with its air wing, Ticonderoga-class cruiser Princeton, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Kidd, Howard and Shoup along with integral helicopters, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine and one Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8A. The exercise will also witness a separate interaction between IN and USN Special Forces and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams at the IN MARCOS training base INS Karna at Visakhapatnam. The JMSDF will be represented by JS Izumo, a helicopter carrier with SH 60K helicopters and JS Sazanami, a missile destroyer with SH 60K integral helicopter.


MALABAR-17 will be another milestone with participation of 16 ships, two submarines and more than 95 aircraft, towards strengthening mutual confidence and inter-operability as well as sharing of best practices between the Indian, Japanese and US Navies. The exercise is a demonstration of the joint commitment of all three nations to address common maritime challenges across the spectrum of operations and will go a long way in enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region, for the benefit of the global maritime community.

 

[Hindustani78]

A week-long joint naval exercise between India, Japan and United States that took place last week, involved ships and aircraft from all three nations. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

Malabar 2017, running from July 7-17, is the latest in a series of yearly exercises that have grown in scope and complexity in recent years to confront potential threats in the Indo-Asian maritime theater. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

Malabar 2017 involves both shore exchanges on naval doctrine and interoperability between the three navies, including operating with carrier strike groups and coordinating communications. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

The sea-based exercise includes a guided-missile cruiser and three destroyers, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, and a land-based P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol craft. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

Concerns over China rapidly modernizing and enlarging its Navy, and ongoing tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, has led to an uptick of allied naval exercises like Malabar 2017. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

India, Japan and the United States demonstrated their naval prowess and full-fledged commitment to address common maritime challenges. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

India welcomed thousands of US sailors who will build upon our countries’ strong relationship and forge new friendships. (Photo: Indian Navy Twitter)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/629716/us-amphibious-ship-arrives-goa.html

Mrityunjay Bose, DH News Service, Mumbai, Aug 24 2017, 20:01 IST

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Goa for a scheduled port visit and subject matter expert exchange August 24. USS Pearl Harbor is a Whidbey Island class (cargo variant) amphibious dock landing ship with a crew of over 700 Sailors and embarked Marines. Deccan Herald photo

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Goa for a scheduled port visit and subject matter expert exchange August 24. USS Pearl Harbor is a Whidbey Island class (cargo variant) amphibious dock landing ship with a crew of over 700 Sailors and embarked Marines.

While in Goa the ship's Sailors and Marines will conduct exchanges with the Indian Navy and Indian Navy Marine Commandos relating to amphibious warfare.

They will also engage in community relations events and have the opportunity to experience Indian culture while enjoying liberty in one of the country's most beautiful regions. This is the ship's first visit to India.

"We are thrilled by the opportunity to visit India," said Commander Theodore Essenfeld, USS Pearl Harbor's commanding officer. "The Sailors and Marines of Pearl Harbor look forward to experiencing the culture and traditions of India while strengthening our long-standing partnership with the Indian Navy."

USS Pearl Harbor was launched on February 24, 1996, and commissioned on May 30th, 1998. The ship is based in San Diego, California. The 15th MEU is based at Camp Pendleton, California. Both USS Pearl Harbor and the 15th MEU are currently deployed as a part of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group, which is operating in the Indo-Asia Pacific region to strengthen partnerships and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
06-September, 2017 10:50 IST
Joint Press Statement on The India-Japan Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue


Following is the text of the Joint Press Statement on the India-Japan Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue, during the two day visit of the Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley to Japan to attend the dialogue which was held from September 05, 2017:-

“The Defence Minister of India Shri Arun Jaitley is on a bilateral visit to Japan at the invitation of the Defence Minister of Japan Mr Itsunori Onodera from 05 to 06 September 2017. The two Ministers held the annual Defence Ministerial Meeting on 05 September 2017 in Tokyo.

2. The Ministers exchanged views and ideas with the aim to further strengthen defence and security cooperation under the framework of the “Japan-lndia Special Strategic and Global Partnership”. They expressed satisfaction at the continued deepening and diversification of bilateral defence cooperation since the signing of the bilateral Memorandum on Defence Co-operation and Exchanges in September 2014 and the two Defence Framework agreements signed in December 2015.

3. The Ministers exchanged views on the current security situation in the Indo-Pacific region. They condemned in the strongest terms North Korea’s nuclear test of 03 September 2017, which is in violation of its international obligations and commitments, including under relevant UNSC resolutions and called upon DPRK to cease such action which adversely impacts peace and stability of the region and beyond.

4. The Ministers noted that regular interactions at all levels, in particular the establishment of Staff Talks at the level of the three Services, have enhanced mutual understanding. The Ministers underlined their intention to explore opportunities for enhancing exchanges and decided to promote cooperation in the following areas:-

(1) Institutionalised Dialogue and Visits.

a. Annual Defence Ministerial Meeting: The Defence Minister of Japan will visit lndia in 2018.

b. Welcoming the visit by the Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy to Japan in 2016 and the visit by the Chief of the Staff, Air Self Defence Force and Chief of Staff, Ground Self-Defence Force to India in 2016 and 2017 respectively, both sides agreed to organise the first visit of Japanese Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Japan Self Defence Forces to India in the first half of 2018.

c. Scheduling the 6th Defence Vice Minister/ Secretary level Defence Policy Dialogue and the 5th Vice Minister / Secretary level “2 +2” dialogue in India in 2018.

(2) Exchanges between Japan Ground Self Defence Force and Indian Army.

The Ministers welcomed the progress in the Army to Army Staff talks in November 2016 and agreed to develop active exchanges in the fields of PKO, Counter-Terrorism and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), as key areas of common interest for the two countries.

Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) would invite Indian Armed Forces personnel to participate in the HADR exercise conducted by JGSDF as Observers.


In the context of enhanced co-operation between the two ground forces the Ministers decided to explore a joint field exercise in the field of counter-terrorism between the Indian Army and the JGSDF in 2018.

(3) Exchanges between Japan Maritime Self Defence Force and the Indian Navy.

The Ministers expressed satisfaction at the success of Japan-India-US Trilateral Maritime Exercise MALABAR 2017 in July 2017 and confirmed their intention to further deepen and advance the objectives of this Exercise. Minister Onodera expressed his intention to have state-of-the-art Japanese assets including P-1 to participate in the MALABAR 2018. Minister Jaitley welcomed this proposal.

The Ministers noted the importance of bilateral training interactions between Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF). The two sides will consider inclusion of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training to expand cooperation. In addition the ministers agreed to pursue exchanges and training by ASW aviation units such as P-3C. The Japanese side proposed to invite Indian Navy personnel to mine-countermeasures training held by JMSDF.

(4) Exchanges between Japan Air Self Defence Force and Indian Air Force.

The Ministers welcomed the participation of Vice Chief of Staff, JASDF in “Aero India-2017” in February 2017. They also welcomed the visit of Indian Air Force helicopter crews to JASDF’s Air Rescue Squadron in Hyakuri, expanding bilateral air-to-air exchanges in the domains of aviation safety and air crew exchanges.

The Ministers expressed their intention to seek further opportunities to enhance cooperation by enabling visits of their aircraft to each other’s air bases.

(5) Education and Research exchanges.

The Ministers appreciated personnel exchanges between the two sides by means of representation at defence educational and research institutions. They expressed satisfaction over successful bilateral exchanges in UN Peace Keeping involving the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping of India and the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Centre.

(6) Cooperation in Defence Equipment and Technology.

The Ministers endorsed the importance of enhancing interaction between governments and defence industries of the two countries to encourage equipment collaboration including defence and dual-use technologies. They commended the progress made in discussions to identify specific areas of collaboration in the field of defence equipment and technology cooperation including in the framework of the Joint Working Group on Defence Equipment and Technology Cooperation. They noted the effort made by both countries regarding the cooperation on US-2 amphibious aircraft.

They welcomed the constructive engagement between Acquisition, Technology and Logistic Agency (ATLA) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and agreed to commence the technical discussions for research collaboration in the areas of Unmanned Ground Vehicles and Robotics.

The Ministers commended the conduct of the first-ever meeting on defence industry cooperation held by ATLA and Department of Defence Production (DDP) in Tokyo, which witnessed significant participation of government entities and companies of both countries. They expressed their expectation that this meeting will lead both countries to future defence equipment and technology cooperation and enhance interaction between governments and industries of both countries. Minister Jaitley briefed about recent policy reforms in the defence manufacturing sectors in India which offer opportunities for foreign industries to play an active role.

Minister Jaitley thanked Minister Onodera for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and members of the Indian delegation during his visit to Japan.

Tokyo

05 September 2017”

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/631725/india-japan-step-up-defence.html

Kalyan Ray, DH News Service, New Delhi, Sep 6 2017, 19:14 IST

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (L) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo September 5, 2017. REUTERS/Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool

India and Japan on Wednesday stepped up their cooperation in defence opening up multiple new windows that range from training the Indian Navy personnel on anti-submarine warfare to joint counter-terrorism exercise between the two armies in 2018.

Japan also proposed to dispatch it P1 maritime patrol aircraft along with a warship for the Malabar series of trilateral exercise involving India, US and Japanese navies in 2018.

Furthermore, Indian Navy has been invited to the mine counter-measure training by the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force.

These were decided at the two-day India-Japan Annual Defence Ministerial Dialogue in Tokyo attended by the defence minister Arun Jaitley and his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera. This was the Jaitley's last assignment as the defence minister as Nirmala Sitharaman is slated to take over as the new defence minister on Thursday.

The proposed sale of US-2 ShinMaywa amphibious aircraft figured in the discussions between the two ministers in Tokyo, according to the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting.

Japan had offered to sell 12 of these aircraft to India for better monitoring its exclusive economic zone even though the Defence Ministry is yet to issue an Acceptance of Necessity for the aircraft.

The bolstering of military ties between India and Japan comes days after India managed to resolve a stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops that continued for more than 70 days.

The meeting between the two defence ministers happened days after North Korea tested a Hydrogen bomb with "unprecedentedly big power" that can be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile. This was condemned by both ministers in the strongest terms.

“The ministers decided to explore a joint field exercise in the field of counter-terrorism between the Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self Defence Force in 2018. Indian armed forces were invited to participate as observers in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise conducted by JGSDF,” says the statement.

The cooperation between the two air forces would now extend to aircraft visiting each other bases. Also, several high-level exchanges including a visit from the Japanese minister is likely to take place in 2018.

India and Japan had slowly transformed their defence relations, repositioning themselves as military allies in the last few years as China became assertive in the Indian Ocean region.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the past mooted creation of an “Arc of Democracy” in the Indian Ocean region, to tackle China's “String of Pearls” strategy.

 

[Hindustani78]

 

[Hindustani78]

To strengthen maritime security, India and the United States have agreed to implement the programme for Helicopter Operations from Ships other Than Aircraft Carriers (HOSTAC)
Updated: Oct 27, 2017 08:44 IST
Press Trust of India, Washington
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...me-security/story-OkOUrDEJkW6BOAhqWkrk3H.html


To strengthen maritime security, India and the United States have agreed to implement the programme for Helicopter Operations from Ships other Than Aircraft Carriers (HOSTAC), the Pentagon has said.

A decision in this regard was taken by Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her US Counterpart Jim Mattis during their meeting in Philippines on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.

“The two emphasized the importance of strengthening maritime security cooperation, and, in support of this objective, decided to implement the program for Helicopter Operations from Ships other Than Aircraft Carriers (HOSTAC),” the Pentagon Spokesperson Dana W White said.

Sitharaman and Mattis “agreed on the importance of a rules-based international order” in which all nations are able to prosper, and the “need to work together” against the common threat of terrorism, White said.

They discussed a range of initiatives to strengthen US- India defense cooperation and enhance India’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific, White said.

This was their second meeting in less than a month.

Mattis had travelled to India late last month.

“This is a moment of strategic convergence for the US and India,” White told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

 

[Hindustani78]

Indian Navy's two P-8 I long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft and two P-3C Orion jets of the Japanese Navy will be part of the exercise, said an official of the Indian Navy
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-japan-hold-anti-submarine-warfare-exercise-4912552/

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:October 29, 2017 9:11 pm

Indian Navy’s two P-8 I long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft and two P-3C Orion jets of the Japanese Navy will be part of the exercise, said an official of the Indian Navy (Representational Image)

Navies of India and Japan on Sunday began a three-day anti-submarine warfare exercise in the Indian Ocean region to deepen their operational coordination in the strategically important sea lanes around the two countries. Indian Navy’s two P-8 I long-range maritime reconnaissance anti-submarine warfare aircraft and two P-3C Orion jets of the Japanese Navy will be part of the exercise, said an official of the Indian Navy.

The two P-3C Orions, which are anti-submarine warfare aircraft, landed at naval air station Hansa in Goa today. The short duration exercise is taking place amid concerns in India and Japan over China’s growing presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Navy spokesperson Capt D K Sharma said aircrew from both navies will also have extensive interaction to evolve a “concept of joint operations” “This exercise takes the bilateral relations to an unprecedented level of ‘Strategic and Global partnership’,” he said.

Japan Navy has participated in the recent trilateral Malabar exercise along with India and the US. The three navies have been intensifying their cooperation considering China’s expansionist behaviour in the critical sea lanes.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono last week had said that Tokyo favours a dialogue between Japan, the US, India and Australia to further boost strategic partnership among the four countries.

 

[#hydra#]

We are inviting wrong men here,bay of bengal is dominated by india and of course USN,its not wise to invite other.

 

[Chhatrapati]

We are inviting wrong men here,bay of bengal is dominated by india and of course USN,its not wise to invite other.

Japs are the wrong men?

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu at the Judo Training Program, organized as part of Japan-India Sports Exchange Program, in New Delhi on December 16, 2017.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and the Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu at the Judo Training Program, organized as part of Japan-India Sports Exchange Program, in New Delhi on December 16, 2017.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the Judo Training Program, organized as part of Japan-India Sports Exchange Program, in New Delhi on December 16, 2017.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressing at the Judo Training Program, organized as part of Japan-India Sports Exchange Program, in New Delhi on December 16, 2017.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore addressing at the Judo Training Program, organized as part of Japan-India Sports Exchange Program, in New Delhi on December 16, 2017.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) and Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the Judo Training Program, organized as part of Japan-India Sports Exchange Program, in New Delhi on December 16, 2017.