India working on setting up direct naval contact with China

NEW DELHI: With an aim of averting military confrontations on high seas, India is working on establishing a mechanism of direct contact with the navies of various countries, including China with which a face-off was encountered a few months back.

The mechanism could involve a communication line like hotline between senior officers of the Navies akin to that between armies.

"As far as the face-to-face meetings are concerned, it makes some sense as hotlines are there between DGMOs of our country and other countries," Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told a press conference here.

"These issues would be taken up with countries with whom there is a possibility of a misunderstanding. It is under examination of the Government," he said when asked if such a protocol was in the offing with China.

Sources later said China is one of the countries with which India plans to have such a mechanism and the aim is to avert military confrontation due to misunderstandings.

The initiative assumes significance considering an incident a few months back in South China Sea when Indian Naval warship INS Airavat was reportedly asked by Chinese Navy to leave the maritime area.