No Indo-US naval patrol in South China Sea, defence ministry says

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry has denied reports that India and US have held talks about conducting joint naval patrols, which in the future could even extend to the contentious South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in bitter territorial disputes with its neighbours.

"Such reports are highly speculative. Whatever concrete bilateral discussions took place between defence minister Manohar Parrikar and his American counter Ash Carter in the US are reflected in the joint statement issued on December 11," said a highly-placed MoD source on Wednesday.

Apart from expressing an intent to "maintain the strong momentum in bilateral security and defence engagement", and further expand maritime cooperation in the years ahead, the joint statement had welcomed Indian participation in the Rim-of-Pacific multilateral naval exercise and Red Flag multilateral air combat exercise in the US this year.

"Moreover, India's stated policy is that it does and will join any international military operation only under the blue flag of United Nations. Consequently, while we do coordinate with the ongoing multilateral policing of the Gulf of Aden, we conduct our own anti-piracy patrols there," said the source.

India, of course, continues to be wary of China's rapid military modernisation and its aggressive behaviour in the Asia-Pacific, but wants to be seen as "a neutral player" in the geopolitical jostling underway in the region between Washington and Beijing.

But it has obliquely criticised Beijing's strongarm tactics in the South China Sea, holding that disputes between China and countries like Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and others should be resolved in a peaceful manner in accordance with international laws.

India has also repeatedly stressed the need for all to respect the freedom of navigation in international waters, right of passage and overflight, unimpeded commerce, and access to resources in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.