New Delhi: After the incident of a Chinese research vessel being asked to leave the Indian waters, the Indian Navy Chief has issued a stern warning against all Chinese ships venturing into Indian waters.
Navy Chief, Admiral Karambir Singh said that the presence of Chinese ships in Indian Ocean is increasing and said that if the communist country wants to operate in the Exclusive Economic Zone in Indian waters, then the Chinese must have to take permission.
The Admiral said, “Our stand is that if you have to work in our Exclusive Economic Zone, then you have to take our permission.”
Recently a Chinese vessel Shin Yan 1 was ordered by Indian Navy to leave the area, when it was found floating near Port Blair. Indian security forces fear that it might be a spy vessel used to monitor the movements and activities of Indian Navy.
He also said that the Chinese vessels might have entered the region to take part in to take part in an exercise with Pakistan.
He added, “Presence of China in the Indian Ocean Region is increasing and we are constantly watching it… China and Pakistan are scheduled to hold an exercise, and to take part in this exercise their vessels must have entered the Indian Ocean Region.”
Admiral Karambir Singh was speaking at a press conference a day before the Navy Day celebrations.
He also outlined the operational preparedness of the Indian Navy under Make in India program and said that 50 warships and submarines of the Navy are under construction out of which 48 are on order in Indian shipyards.
The Admiral also expressed his concern over the decline of budget allotted to the Navy from 18% to 12%. He said that Navy is planning to have three aircraft carriers in the long term.
