Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan, led by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, were warmly welcomed by personnel of the Singapore Navy and the High Commissioner of India in Singapore upon their arrival on Monday, as reported by the Indian Navy.
The visit is part of the Operational Deployment of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea, aiming to enhance the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two maritime nations through a series of engagements and activities.
During their stay in the harbor, various activities are planned, including interactions with the High Commission of India, professional engagements with the Republic of Singapore Navy, as well as interactions with academia and the community, among other activities. These activities reflect the shared values of both navies, the Indian Navy added.
The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy have fostered robust relations over three decades, marked by cooperation, coordination, and collaboration, including regular visits, exchange of best practices, and reciprocal training arrangements. The current deployment highlights the strong ties between the two navies.
China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea has led to increased tensions with Southeast Asian claimant states, notably the Philippines, particularly at the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
In recent years, satellite imagery has shown China’s efforts to reclaim land in the South China Sea, expanding islands or creating new ones. The Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s deputy chief of mission Zhou Zhiyong on Thursday following an incident at a disputed shoal that damaged a Philippine coastguard vessel and another government boat.
The Philippines’ protest against the actions of Chinese coastguard and fishing vessels marks the 20th such protest this year and 153 complaints over the past two years, emphasizing actions including harassment, ramming, swarming, shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and the use of water cannons.
China has asserted nearly the entire South China Sea, rejecting claims from other nations, including the Philippines, and disregarding an international ruling that deems these claims illegitimate. Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of the sea.