Chinese warship movement on Eastern part of Indian Ocean not linked to Maldivian crisis

The Indian Navy sees no connection between the movement of Chinese warships on the Eastern part of the Indian Ocean and the ongoing Maldivian crisis, according to sources.

"It is a routine deployment under which Chinese warships (five warships, including one Landing Platform Dock) entered from the Sunda Strait and have gone back from the Strait of Lombok," the Indian Navy insiders said.

The Indian Navy sources, who requested anonymity for this article due to access of operational matters, further said that the distance from the area where the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships entered the Eastern Board of the Indian Ocean from the Indian Mainland is around 2500 nautical miles - a distance too far to be considered a threat.

Taking note of the reports, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Indian Navy, Captain D.K. Sharma said, "We have a very robust surveillance system and we have a clear maritime domain awareness picture round the clock in the Indian Ocean Region."

A Reuters report earlier today quoted Chinese web portal Sina.com.cn that reported Chinese destroyers and at least one frigate, a 30,000-tone amphibious transport dock, and three support tankers entered the Indian Ocean near The Maldives.