(Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images) Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty ImagesĪustin: US doesn't want conflict with China but won't 'flinch when our interests are threatened' The Biden administration has welcomed the presence of democratic allies and partners in the region, amid efforts to counter Beijing.ĭefense Secretary Lloyd Austin holds a news conference on July 21, 2021, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Since taking office, US President Joe Biden has placed renewed focus on Asia, positioning it as the foundation of his foreign policy agenda. Prior to the recent deployment of Britain’s Carrier Strike Group, Chinese state-media accused the United Kingdom of attempting to relive the “glory days of the British Empire” while trying to stir up trouble at the behest of the US. “The mere presence of the ships in the South China Sea, even if outside the 12 (nautical mile) limit of each Chinese-occupied feature, would have sufficed to meet New Delhi’s strategic objectives of signaling its intention to remain engaged in the Western Pacific,” Koh said.Ĭhina regularly decries the presence of foreign naval forces in the South China Sea. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore specializing in naval affairs, said the Indian deployment, a version of which he said is done annually, is “India’s most visible ‘show of flag’ naval presence east of the Malacca Strait.”īut Koh said he doesn’t expect the Indian ships to be confrontational, or undertake any freedom-of-navigation operations near Chinese-claimed islands in the South China Sea. Last week, a British aircraft carrier strike group transited the 1.3 million square mile waterway, while an American surface action group, and forces from China’s People’s Liberation Army staged exercises in it.īeijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory, turning numerous obscure reefs and sandbars throughout the waterway into man-made artificial islands heavily fortified with missiles, runways and weapons systems.Ĭollin Koh, a research fellow at the S. The South China Sea has become a hotbed of naval activity in recent weeks. “These maritime initiatives enhance synergy and coordination between the Indian Navy and friendly countries, based on common maritime interests and commitment towards Freedom of Navigation at sea,” the Indian statement said. A gun is mounted on the Indian Navy's frigate INS Shivalik in Mumbai on April 29, 2010.
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