Chinese experts have said that Indian military drills in the Indian Ocean targeting China were irresponsible and a violation of international law.
A Chinese newspapers, Global Times, quoting Indian media reported on Monday that the “Defence of A&N Islands Exercise” conducted between November 20 and 24 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was intended to counter China’s maritime movements in the Indian Ocean region.
Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, said the exercise could be used to design a response to the regular appearance of “Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines” in the Indian Ocean.
He said the military drill targeting China’s right of passage in international waters was irresponsible and narrow-minded as China has never threatened India’s security. Director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, Zhao Gancheng, said that “Chinese vessels including submarines entering the Indian Ocean are completely reasonable and lawful.