M A I N   N E W S

India, China plan first-ever joint naval exercises
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 27
First ever joint India-China Naval exercises are to be held later this year to give impetus to the relations strengthened by the visit of the Prime Minister to Beijing.

Vice Admiral John Desilva told newspersons here today that a three-day search and rescue exercise was being planned, in which, major warships from the two countries would participate. The date and venue of the exercise were being worked out by the two countries.

India has, initially, proposed to hold anti-piracy exercises in the Malacca straits on the pattern of similar exercises held with Indonesian and US warships in the region. However, the Chinese officials said the anti-piracy role was performed in China by coast guard vessels, so, the two countries had decided to hold joint search and rescue exercises.

Indian and the Chinese Red Army have recently started a greater interaction by sending officers to each other’s military academies.