Looked like those warnings are working.
No patrols with US in Asia-Pacific: Manohar Parrikar | The Asian Age
No patrols with US in Asia-Pacific: Manohar Parrikar
Mar 05, 2016
New Delhi
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar addresses a press conference at South block in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
ndia on Friday ruled out joint maritime patrolling with the United States in waters of the Asia-Pacific region, days after a top American military commander hoped it would happen in the near future. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said India is in for joint military exercises with other countries, including the US, but not for joint patrolling.
“As of now, India has never participated in joint patrolling. But we do participate in joint exercises. So the question of joint patrolling at this stage does not arise,” he told reporters at South Block.
He was asked about the remarks made by the US’ Pacific Command chief, Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr. According to news agency reports, the American commander had recently pitched for a quadrilateral security dialogue among India, Japan, Australia and the US even as he hoped joint patrolling in the Asia-Pacific region would happen in the future. Adm. Harris had hoped that in a “not too distant future” American and Indian Navy vessels steaming together would become “a common and welcome sight” throughout Indo-Asia-Pacific waters.
“I don’t respond to what the US admiral has said. Our viewpoint will come to you if we at all consider any such thing from our side. It may be his calibrated thinking,” Mr Parrikar said. The Indian government is conscious of not drawing itself into a tussle between the US and China.