India, US hold informal talks on joint navy patrols; SCS not discussed

The discussion comes amid reports that the proposed naval patrols may include the disputed waterway

The US and India have held "informal" talks on joint maritime patrols but the contentious South China Sea has not been discussed, the Pentagon has said, amid reports that the proposed naval patrols may include the disputed waterway.

"I can confirm that some informal discussions on joint patrols in general have occurred," a US defence official said yesterday reacting to reports that India and the US are planning a joint maritime patrol in the South China Sea (SCS).

"We are not aware of any discussions that included the SCS as a proposed area for joint patrols," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It is understood that the recent informal discussions have centered around the possibilities of joint maritime patrols in the vast Indian Ocean region that would give the two countries the necessary control over the strategic seaway.

The South China Sea is rich in natural resources. It is also a major shipping lane. Over half the world's commercial shipping passes through the Indo-Pacific waterbody.

China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, resulting in overlapping claims with several other Asian nations like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in contested areas to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use.

Earlier in the day, the Pentagon said the two countries have taken no decision on joint naval patrols.

"On the matter of joint patrols, no decisions have been made and we do not have any additional details to provide at this time," said Defence Department spokesman Cmdr Bill Urban.

He was responding to a question on recent media reports that said India and the US recently held talks on conducting joint naval patrols in areas including the South China Sea.

"The United States and India continue to explore ways to deepen our defence cooperation, including in the area of maritime security," Urban said.

The US Department of Defence and India's Ministry of Defence prioritised this area of cooperation in the 'Framework for the US-India Defense Relationship' signed by Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar in June, 2015.

"We continue to work with our Indian counterparts on how and where to expand engagement in this area," Urban said.
As part of its Asia Pacific rebalance strategy, the Obama administration wants India to take up more responsibilities in the Indian Ocean region.