China reacts cautiously to trilateral Malabar naval drills

BEIJING: Keeping a close watch on Malabar exercises involving the navies of India, Japan and the US, a wary China today reacted cautiously to the drills hoping that they would be conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We have noticed the report," the Chinese Defence Ministry said in e-mail response to a query from PTI about its reaction to the Malabar exercises which began off Japan's coast yesterday. "We hope defence cooperation among relevant countries can be conducive to peace and stability in the region," it said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei in a more detailed response to PTI said countries in the region should help to build a more harmonious Asia-Pacific with mutual trust.

"China actively promotes the Asian Security Concept that is based on common, comprehensive and sustainable security. A harmonious and stable Asia-Pacific region built on the basis of mutual trust among all countries is in line with the common interests of all countries in this region," Hong said.

"But at the same time it also requires all sides to put in an effort. We have noticed the relevant moves and hope that the actions by the relevant countries could follow this direction and should help in building mutual trust among the countries of the region and regional peace and stability," he said.

China had in the past objected to the participation of Japan and other countries in the Malabar series naval drills held mainly between India and the US. The last exercise involving Japan was held in 2009.

Japan continues to be a very sensitive point for China as the relations between the two nose-dived in the recent past due to a dispute over islands in East China Sea. Their navies and military jets jostled with each other to assert their claims over the unmanned islands.

Beijing's ties with Washington also bogged down over the US support to Japan as well as to the Philippines and Vietnam over the South and East China Sea maritime disputes.