U.S. Seeks India's Help to Enhance Naval Engagements in Asia-Pacific

By siliconindia   |   Thursday, 05 March 2015, 01:27 IST
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NEW DELHI: As the ties between India and U.S. begin to strengthen, both the nations are sincerely working on taking the relation to another level. U.S. is looking at India as a vital medium to reinforce to what it calls the “re-balancing of the military force” over the Asia-Pacific region.  For U.S. Asia-Pacific is a critical region, over which China also has a strong hold.

U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Harry Harris states that the provocative Chinese activities in the South China Sea region are raising tensions in the entire Asia-Pacific region. Harris says "It's an issue of concern for all of us. It's a dramatic land reclamation. We don't view South China Sea as anybody's territorial waters... they are international waters."

Admiral Harris announced the intentions to soon take over the reins of the massive U.S. Pacific Command that covers 36 nations. He also added that 60 percent of the formidable U.S. naval fleet will be positioned in the Pacific by 2020, was not directed against China.

Admiral Harris was quick to add that it was up to India to decide whether or not it wants to make its ‘presence’ in the South China Sea; While U.S. is considered about its future economy that lies in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. India is likewise caught in the middle of this new 'Great Game' unfolding in Asia-Pacific. India goes back to non-alignment kind of diplomacy by stressing that everyone must “respect unhindered freedom of navigation in international waters" like South China Sea, where China is locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and others.

On the other hand U.S. increases its presence in India by upgrading the annual Indo-U.S. Malabar naval exercise into a multilateral venture, with regular participation from countries like Japan and Australia. "There is a role for each of our navies to play in building multinational maritime relationships in the Indo-Asia-Pacific," Admiral Harris said.

"An enhanced India-U.S. partnership helps us to ensure other nations respect international law and drives our mutual commitment to open access by all nations to the shared global commons of sea, air, space and cyberspace," he added.

Also Read: U.S. Pacific Fleet Admiral Set To Hold Talks With Indian Defense Ministry Officials
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