Three Indian naval ships arrive in Singapore as part of Eastern Fleet deployment in the South China Sea

Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Shakti and Kiltan, commanded by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, arrived in Singapore on Monday, where they were warmly welcomed by Singapore Naval personnel and the High Commissioner of India to Singapore, the Indian Navy said.

The visit is part of the operational deployment of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea.

The visit is set to further strengthen the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two maritime nations through a number of programs and activities.

During the ships’ stay in the port, various activities are planned, including interactions with the Indian High Commission, professional interactions with the Navy of the Republic of Singapore and other activities as well as education and community outreach that will benefit both navies. Reflects shared values. , the Indian Navy also said.

The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy have a strong relationship spanning over three decades of cooperation, coordination and regular visits, exchange of best practices and mutual training arrangements. The current deployment underlines the strong ties between the two navies.

China’s aggression in the South China Sea continues to increase, resulting in increased tensions with Southeast Asian claimant states, particularly the Philippines, over the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

In recent years, satellite imagery has shown China’s increasing efforts to reclaim land in the South China Sea by physically increasing the size of islands or creating new islands entirely.

The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry summoned China’s deputy chief of mission Zhou Xiong on Thursday, May 3. The Philippines’ action came two days after an incident off a disputed coast that left a Philippine coast guard ship and another government boat damaged.

The ministry said it was the 20th protest by the Philippines this year against the conduct of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels. The ministry has fielded 153 complaints in the last two years.

“The Philippines protests harassment, sabotage, swarming, shadowing and blocking, threatening maneuvers, use of water cannons and other aggressive actions,” the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said in a statement. [the] China Coast Guard and Chinese Marine Militia.”

China has claimed almost the entire South China Sea, rejecting claims by other countries, including the Philippines, and an international ruling said the claims have no legal basis. Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam also claim parts of the sea.