U.S. Navy Challenges Quad Partner India s Excessive Claims at Sea, Met with Concerns
On 4/9/21 at 12:10 PM EDT
The U.S. military sent a warship in defiance of maritime territorial claims of India, a fellow member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). New Delhi has objected to the action, as both countries emphasize a focus on geopolitics across Asia and its strategic oceans.
According to a statement by the U.S. Navy s 7th Fleet released on Wednesday, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer
USS John Paul Jones asserted navigational rights and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India s exclusive economic zone, without requesting India s prior consent, consistent with international law.
The move to publicly challenge India’s “excessive maritime claims” is sure to irk New Delhi privately.
April 08, 2021
The guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) transits the Arabian Gulf, October 27, 2020.
Credit: Flickr/Official U.S. Navy Page
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According to the United States 7th Fleet, USS John Paul Jones carried out a freedom of navigation operation near India’s Lakshadweep Islands on April 7. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer “asserted navigational rights and freedoms approximately 130 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands, inside India’s exclusive economic zone, without requesting India’s prior consent, consistent with international law,” a statement from the Fleet claimed.
PRC no factor in Taiwan-India ties
By Sana
Hashmi
On Wednesday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs posted on Twitter a condolence message regarding a fatal train crash in Taiwan that on Friday last week killed 50 people.
It was probably the first time that the ministry posted online about Taiwan. It was a humanitarian gesture; however, it also indicates a subtle policy shift. It might not mean that India will proactively engage Taiwan in the near future, but it is a positive development.
India’s preference to manage its ties with China has led it to overlook Taiwan for a long time, but recent developments have compelled New Delhi to rethink its policy and approach toward Beijing.
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