INDIA REJECTS OZ NAVY DRILL, CHINA HAPPY

Sydney/Beijing, May 31: India has rejected an Australian request to take part in joint naval exercises with the United States and Japan for fear of antagonising China, which has warned against expanding the drills, navy officials and diplomats said.

Australia formally wrote to the Indian defence ministry in January asking if it could send naval ships to join the July wargames as an observer, in what military experts saw as a step toward eventual full participation.

Four officials from India, Australia and Japan said India blocked the proposal.

New Delhi is worried that China will step up activities in the Indian Ocean where it is building infrastructure in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, feeding India's anxiety about being encircled, Indian military sources and diplomats said.

Meanwhile, China welcomed India’s reported decision to reject Australia’s request to join Navy exercises saying the security concerns of the different parties should be taken into account while holding such drills.

“I have seen the relevant reports on the refusal made by India for the invitation. I think India is also clear about the consideration behind this behaviour,” Hua Chunying told media briefing reacting to a report that India has rejected Australia’s request to join as observer to avoid backlash from China.