Indian Navy warship enters South China Sea stealthily

Warship was deployed after June 15 clash with Chinese PLA

The Indian Navy reportedly deployed one of its frontline warships in the South China Sea much to the displeasure of the Chinese who raised objections over the move during diplomatic talks between the two countries.

The warship was reported to have been deployed in the South China Sea after the June 15 clash with Chinese soldiers in the Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

China objected to the presence of Indian Navy in the South China Sea where the PLA navy has been trying to consolidate its position. The US navy has been conducting exercises in the South China Sea to challenge the dominance that the Chinese navy is trying to establish in the region. US aircraft carriers USS Ronald and USS Nimitz, along with their escorting cruisers and destroyers have conducted exercises in the South China Sea to challenge the Chinese navy’s hegemony in the region which has been threatening its neighbours.

According to reports, the

Indian warship was continuously maintaining contact with their US counterparts deployed in the region over secure communication systems. As part of the routine drills, the Indian warship was being constantly updated about the status of the movement of military vessels of other countries there. The entire mission was carried out in a very hush-hush manner to avoid any public glare on the navy's activities.

The Indian Navy had also deployed its frontline vessels along the Malacca Straits, near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the route from where the Chinese navy enters the Indian Ocean Region (ICR), to keep a check on any activity of the Chinese navy. It is a crucial sea trade route for China.

The Indian Navy also conducted exercises on the Andaman and Nicobar islands and has also deployed MiG-29K fighter aircraft on the islands.

Last month, Indian Navy warships and the US Navy’s carrier strike group led by nuclear powered aircraft carrier, Nimitz, on Monday carried out a passage exercise (PASSEX) in the ICR.