Quad Countries’ Navy Chiefs Meet In Japan Ahead Of Malabar Exercise

The Navy Chiefs of India, Australia, Japan and the United States met in Japan on Saturday to discuss “further enhancing inter-operability” in future editions of the Malabar multilateral naval exercise. Meanwhile, the Chinese research vessel ‘Yuan Wang-6’ entered the Indian Ocean through the Sunda Strait.

The Tokyo meeting comes ahead of a series of multilateral engagements, including naval war games, that Japan will host in the coming weeks. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Malabar exercise, which began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the United States.

While the Chinese vessel's exact location is unknown, official sources say the Indian Navy is closely monitoring its movements. This comes only three months after a major diplomatic spat between India and Sri Lanka over the docking of a similar vessel at the island nation's Hambantota Port in August.

Earlier in the day, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R Hari Kumar arrived in Japan for an official visit from 5 to 9 November, where he will witness the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force's (JMSDF) International Fleet Review (IFR) at Yokosuka on 6 November to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its formation, according to an Indian Navy statement.

“During the visit, the CNS will attend the 18th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) on 7 to 8 November at Yokohama, being hosted by Japan, as the current Chair of WPNS,” the Navy said.

According to the Navy, Admiral Kumar will also attend the Malabar exercise's inauguration in Yokosuka and interact with his counterparts and other heads of delegations from close to 30 countries participating in the IFR, WPNS and the Malabar exercise.

On 2 November, Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kamorta arrived in Yokosuka to participate in the IFR and the Malabar exercise. “The presence of these indigenously built ships of the Indian Navy at these multi-national events will be an opportunity to showcase Indian shipyards' ship-building capabilities during a large international gathering,” the Navy added.