Exclusive: US and India Consider Joint Patrols in South China Sea - US Official

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Sanjeev Miglani, Exclusive: US and India Consider Joint Patrols in South China Sea - US Official. Reuters, Feb 10, 2016
www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-india-usa-idUSKCN0VJ0AA

Quote:

"The United States and India have held talks about conducting joint naval patrols [The report does not say who initiated the talks]

"Washington wants its regional allies and other Asian nations to take a more united stance against China over the South China Sea

"But the Indian navy has never carried out joint patrols with another country and a naval spokesman told Reuters there was no change in the government's policy of only joining an international military effort under the United Nations flag.  He pointed to India's refusal to be part of anti-piracy missions involving dozens of countries in the Gulf of Aden and instead carrying out its own operations there since 2008.

"The US defense official * * * add[ed] that both were hopeful of launching them within the year. * * * The official gave no details on the scale of the proposed patrols.

"Neither India nor the United States has claims to the South China Sea, but both said they backed freedom of navigation and overflight in the waterway when U.S. President Barack Obama visited New Delhi in January 2015.

"the idea of joining the United States in patrols in the region was a long shot, the Indian officer said.

My comment: There is no need to read the rest.