China ships always on radar: Navy vice chief; US, Russia among 55 navies to take part in Feb drill

NEW DELHI: India continues to keep close tabs on Chinese warships and spy vessels in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), even as it gears up to host the navies of both the US and Russia, among 55 countries, at the 'Milan' maritime exercise and International Fleet Review (IFR) at Visakhapatnam in Feb."There is a continuous presence of extra-regional powers in the IOR due to the ongoing situation. It has always been like that, and it's only increasing," Navy vice chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan said on Friday."At any given point in time, we have a minimum of 40 operating in IOR, but it goes even beyond 50 warships. We are monitoring each and every one of them. We are aware of what they're doing, what they're likely to do, when they come in, when they go out," he added.With the world's largest Navy with over 370 warships and submarines, China has been steadily bolstering its "underwater domain awareness" in the IOR through almost permanent deployment of survey and research 'spy vessels' to map oceanographic and other data useful for navigation and submarine operations, as was reported by TOI earlier.Vice Admiral Vatsayan also said that Operation Sindoor, which India had launched against Pakistan in May, is still in progress.

"The message to be conveyed with our ongoing exercises with foreign countries is that our plans are in place without any hindrance. We are ready and deployed as part of Operation Sindoor at present and in the future," Vice Admiral Vatsayan said.The Navy will host the Milan exercise, IFR and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) conclave of chiefs at Vizag from Feb 15 to 25. "Both the US and Russia have confirmed their presence and will send ships for the (Milan) exercise," Vice Admiral Vatsayan said.Japan and Australia, both partners in the 'Quad' with India and US, would also be participating in the exercise. India has not invited China, Pakistan and Turkiye for the events.