India, Japan to conduct first ever bilateral naval exercise next year

[SpArK]

India, Japan to conduct first ever bilateral naval exercise next year


With Beijing making strategic inroads into the Indian Ocean region, New Delhi and Tokyo have firmed up a plan to conduct the first ever bilateral naval exercise in the expanse by early next year, which will be part of the measures to enhance security and defence cooperation between the two. So far, Japan had been engaged only in multi-lateral naval exercises wherein India too had been a part.

Defence Minister AK Antony and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna will head to Japan in November this year ahead of newly elected Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda’s visit here in December, sources said. The dates for Antony and Krishna’s visit are being worked out, the sources added.

Antony, sources said, will propose a joint naval exercise between the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces (JMSDF), the naval branch of Japanese Self Defence Forces.

In the wake of concerns over safety of sea lanes and rising vulnerability to disruption of supplies, India and Japan are prompted to explore avenues for joint cooperation in maritime security. India has been engaged in bilateral naval cooperation with several South East Asian countries with the primary aim of addressing maritime problems.

In April this year, Japan pulled out of the trilateral Malabar Exercise between India, US and Japan at the last moment due to Fukushima nuclear crisis. Japan had earlier agreed to play host to Indian and the US naval warships by holding the exercise near the port city of Okinawa.

Sources termed the first-such bilateral naval exercise and the congruence of the two defence forces as a “win-win for both” even as they did not rule out the possibility of Beijing making it a major issue.

But since India and Japan have increased mutual cooperation and interoperability and conformability with NATO procedures, the joint drill will bring out the best for the two nations, the sources said.

India and Japan already have an enhanced security dialogue and cooperation aimed at tackling regional as well as global security challenges. There is a Comprehensive Security Dialogue, Defence Policy Dialogue and Military-to-Military Talks. There have also been enhanced Service-to-Service exchanges between defence establishments of the two countries. The annual Indian Coast Guard-Japan Coast Guard Talks were held in 2009 and 2010 and the two countries also have joint patrolling to counter piracy operations in the Malacca Straits.

Chinese Navy’s interest in the Indian Ocean, the world’s leading premier trade and energy seaway, is reflected by its projects in the region. From port building in Hambantota in Sri Lanka to modernisation of Chittagong port in Bangladesh to the already operational Gwadar port in Pakistan which is straight at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz (the only exit to the Persian Gulf oil). Further, China is also building Irrawaddy Corridor linking Yunnan province in China with Burmese ports on the Bay of Bengal. China has been focused on both Naval and nuclear forces modernisation for sometime too.

India, Japan to conduct first ever bilateral naval exercise next year

 

[manojb]

Norway nd japan prodces best seamen. Indian shud learn lot from them.

 

[pari.mehta]

Norway nd japan prodces best seamen. Indian shud learn lot from them.

That was deep bro.

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

We should start holding Joint exercises like the joint U.S-Japan-Australia-Singapore-India naval exercise we held a few years back but then did not continue after China grew apprehensive. Time for the GOI to realize that even if we go out of our way to placate China , they will never stop trying to strategically encircle us . We should poise ourselves geo-strategically to counter any adverse situation.

Instead of just exercises , how about a Defense pact with Japan , Vietnam and Philippines.

 

[RPK]

First Bilateral Maritime Exercise between India and Japan ‘Jimex 12’ to Commence on 09 Jun 12

The first Bi-lateral maritime exercise between India and Japan 'JIMEX 12' (Japan India Maritime Exercise) will commence tomorrow, 09 June, off Tokyo. Units of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) participating are twodestroyers; one maritime patrol aircraft and a helicopter. Indian Naval units participating are INS Rana, INS Shivalik, INS Karmukh and INS Shakti. The four ships entered Tokyo on 05 Jun 12 after visiting Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and Republic of Koreaenroute. The three day stay in Tokyo coincides with commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

The four ships of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, under the command of Rear Admiral P Ajit Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet are on a sustained operational deployment to the South China Sea and North West Pacific. The two month long deployment which commenced in end May 2012enables Navy to Navy cooperation with the numerous navies across the region as well as demonstrates the Indian Navy's operational reach. On completion of the exercise, the ships will be visiting Beijing, China and Port Kelang, Malaysia in mid-Jun 12.

During the deployment the ships participate in passage exercises with the respective Navies of countries visited. The focus of 'Passage Exercises' is primarily in the sphere of Maritime Security Cooperation. These include Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills, which form a part of Anti-Piracy operations. Exercises of these nature enhance inter-operability thereby enabling the two navies to smoothly function together in the sphere of maritime security / HADR operations, should the need arise.

In addition, during the port visits, the Fleet Commander along with the Commanding Officers of the ships, meet high-ranking officials of the Navy, state administration, port management, coastal security organization, police, and other stakeholders of maritime security in the countries visited in order to share professional experiences and exchange best practices in areas of mutual interest.

Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command is also visiting Tokyo to witness the first JIMEX.

The government has been deploying ships of the Indian Navy on Eastbound long range deployments in keeping with India's 'Look East' policy, to strengthen military ties with the countries of this strategically important region.

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PVS/AKR
(Release ID :84780)

 

[DrSomnath999]

well we should involve South korean navy & taiwanese navy in that exercise