US & India mull over ‘joint patrols’ in South China Sea
February 10, 2016
Washington and New Delhi reportedly discussed plans to conduct joint naval patrols that could include the South China Sea, where Beijing has built several islands in the Spratly archipelago amid protests and territorial claims by neighboring countries. Delhi and Washington have recently boosted military ties, holding naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, which involved the Japanese navy last year. The Indian Navy has never carried out joint patrols with another country, however. A naval spokesman told Reuters there was no change in the government’s policy of only joining an international military effort under the United Nations flag.