Navy goes where policy leads
30 July 2013 4:59 AM IST
Indian Navy’s ability to project power further away from the country’s shores has now been well established. But naval planners are still not comfortable with calling it a ‘projection of power.’
They would rather believe that this is ‘regular interaction with friendly Naval forces, and build operational understanding.’ In other words, the Navy really sees this as ‘chasing look-East government policies.’
Around the time the land forces of the country were involved in border spats with China, the Navy was in the neighbourhood of the country, at Da Nang naval base and harbour of Vietnam on the South China Sea. It stayed till 8 June, from 4 June.
The Indian flotilla consisted of INS Satpura (a stealth frigate), INS Ranvijay (a destroyer), INS Kirch (missile corvette) and INS Shakti (a replenishment tanker). This was led by Rear Admiral Ajit Kumar.
The ships first visited Singapore from 13 till 20 May, taking part in an annual joint naval exercise, Simbex – the Singapore-India Maritime bilateral exercise. The Indian Navy also took part in the maritime exhibition, IMDEX ’13.
Then the flotilla moved to Klang in Malayasia between 25-29 May, followed by Da Nang and finally Manila, the Phippines in 12-16 June.
The objective of the naval exercise was to show ‘presence,’ prove ‘long sea legs,’ and show ‘flag.’
The UPA government’s policy of aggressive venture in the ASEAN region, along with East Asia, is a product of a considered view that greater engagement in the region will lead to both material and military benefits.
Evidently, the navy is proving to be an useful tool to extend that policy across the Indian Ocean, South and East China Seas.
They would rather believe that this is ‘regular interaction with friendly Naval forces, and build operational understanding.’ In other words, the Navy really sees this as ‘chasing look-East government policies.’
Around the time the land forces of the country were involved in border spats with China, the Navy was in the neighbourhood of the country, at Da Nang naval base and harbour of Vietnam on the South China Sea. It stayed till 8 June, from 4 June.
The Indian flotilla consisted of INS Satpura (a stealth frigate), INS Ranvijay (a destroyer), INS Kirch (missile corvette) and INS Shakti (a replenishment tanker). This was led by Rear Admiral Ajit Kumar.
The ships first visited Singapore from 13 till 20 May, taking part in an annual joint naval exercise, Simbex – the Singapore-India Maritime bilateral exercise. The Indian Navy also took part in the maritime exhibition, IMDEX ’13.
Then the flotilla moved to Klang in Malayasia between 25-29 May, followed by Da Nang and finally Manila, the Phippines in 12-16 June.
The objective of the naval exercise was to show ‘presence,’ prove ‘long sea legs,’ and show ‘flag.’
The UPA government’s policy of aggressive venture in the ASEAN region, along with East Asia, is a product of a considered view that greater engagement in the region will lead to both material and military benefits.
Evidently, the navy is proving to be an useful tool to extend that policy across the Indian Ocean, South and East China Seas.
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