China has ‘open attitude’ towards IndiaSingapore naval exercise

BEIJING : China on Friday reacted to a naval exercise between India and Singapore in the dispute-ridden South China Sea by saying it has an “open attitude” towards exchanges between countries that benefit regional peace and security.

Beijing’s reaction came a day after the two countries began their week-long Simbex-17 naval exercise — which will focus on anti-submarine warfare — in the South China Sea, where China is locked in disputes over the ownership of islands and reefs with neighbours.

“If such exercises and cooperation are for the benefit of regional peace and stability, then we have no opposition,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing.

“We hold a very open attitude to normal exchanges between countries,” she said when asked about the exercise in the South China Sea, almost entirely claimed by China. “We just hope when relevant countries conduct such exchange and cooperation, they should bear in mind such activities not hurt the interests of other countries or have a negative impact on regional peace and stability,” she said.

India and Singapore held their first naval exercise in the South China Sea in 2005. Between 1994 and 2004, the two navies held their drills — then called “Lion King” — off the coast of Kochi.

India has sent the warships Shivalik, Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kamorta and a P8-I maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for this year’s drill.