WASHINGTON: US and India held talks to conduct joint naval patrols in Indian sea and considered to include South China Sea in their joint patrol.
South China Sea is a disputed waterway among many countries. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines and Taiwan also claim parts of the waterway which China occupies and claims to be her maritime waters.
More than $5 trillion world trade passes through the South China Sea and China claims most of the waterway.
US and India never claimed South China Sea but they support freedom of navigation and over flight in the water way.
India and US are strengthening their economic and military ties and desired to enhance the bilateral ties to the strategic levels in coming years with US bypassing Russia in becoming the largest Military hardware exporter to India
The joint naval patrol in South China Sea would likely anger Beijing and a strong reaction would be seen from the Chinese side, if and when the joint patrol is conducted.
However no initial comments came from China as there is a week-long holiday in China to celebrate Chinese New Year.