The `Quad’ countries of India, the US, Japan and Australia have kicked off their high-notch Malabar naval exercise off Yokosuka close to the East China Sea, with China’s aggressive strikes within the Indo-Pacific figuring excessive on their radar screens.
India has deployed multi-position stealth frigate INS Shivalik, anti-submarine corvette INS Kamorta and a P-8I lengthy-vary maritime patrol plane for the ten-day Malabar exercise that may witness “advanced coordinated anti-submarine warfare” amongst different complicated fight drills.
The US has fielded nuclear-powered plane provider USS Ronald Reagan, guided missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Milius. Australia, in flip, is collaborating with Anzac-class frigate Arunta and tanker Stalwart, whereas Japan has helicopter-provider Hyuga, destroyers Takanami and Shiranui, and tanker Oumi.
The annual Malabar exercise, which began as a bilateral endeavour between India and the US in 1992, now consists of Japan and Australia as common contributors.
China, which now has the world’s largest Navy with 355 warships and submarines, has prior to now protested in opposition to the Malabar on the bottom that the exercise is an element of an effort by an axis of democracies to `comprise’ it within the area.
The `Quad’ countries, on their half, have repeatedly declared their intent to discourage any `coercion’ within the Indo-Pacific. “The four nations collectively support a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and remain committed to a rules-based international order,” an officer mentioned.
The exercise’s opening ceremony was attended by Indian Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Japan’s Self Defense Fleet commander-in-chief Vice Admiral Yuasa Hideki, US Seventh Fleet commander Vice Admiral Karl Thomas and Australian Fleet commander Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley. (TOI)
