Japan to become Observer in Indo-US naval exercise

Even as India said no to multilateral military exercises lest it make China wary, Japan is likely to participate in the 2012 edition of the Indo-US Malabar naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal as Observer.

India decided to not to expand the Malabar exercise after the neighbor in the east- China strongly objected to the 2007 edition of the Malabar exercise that saw five countries - India, US, Australia, Japan and Singapore exercising in the Bay of Bengal. Beijing has seen the exercise as a grouping of democratic countries in the Asia-Pacific Region to contain the rise of the Dragon.

 (Pics of Malabar 2009)

“There is state government policy against multilateral naval exercises owing to diplomatic issues. After 2007 Japan has repeatedly shown interest in participating in the Malabar series of naval exercise. This time it would participate as Observer,” sources said. The increased comfort in the Indo-Japan military ties might rankle China as much as the fact that the simulated war games contained to the Western seaboard (except for 2007 edition), so far will take place in the Bay of Bengal.

While both sides are yet to decide on the participating platforms in the exercise slated in April, sources say that both the forces will simulate in anti-submarine operations, submarine to submarine operations, flying operations and cross deck embarkations. During the exercise, alternating control and command will also take place, under which the Indian fleet commander will take over the command of the US fleet and vice-versa.

 The multi-lateral exercises are cost and time effective and prepare the Indian Navy for a scenario where forces from several nations will work in close proximity like during a natural disaster. But a defensive Indian Defence Ministry has ensured since 2007 to not to get on the wrong side of China.

Despite the impediments in the signing of military agreements like the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA), India and the US have enjoyed flourishing military ties. Armed Forces from both the countries have been exercising with each other with increasing frequency and scope.

The past editions of Malabar have seen aircraft carriers from both sides participating in the exercise.