New Delhi: Japan has agreed to help India develop its maritime security, a move, seen as an attempt by India to counter the growing threat by China in the Andaman region. The issue was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Japan, sources said.
During delegation level talks, attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the growing influence of China in Andaman region was discussed.
Japan has agreed to provide sophisticated equipments, arms and ammunition in addition to the the US-2 amphibian aircraft to India, to enhance its maritime security. Some of these amphibian aircraft will be deployed in the Andaman region.
For the last few years China has been trying to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean as well as the Bay of Bengal.
What has been causing concern to India is that, China has managed to influence Burma to develop military infrastructure on Coco Islands. Once fully developed, it will po-se a major security threat to Indian interests in the Bay of Bengal region.
In the past China has tried to intrude into the Indian waters. In 2011 a Chinese fishing trawler was spotted by the Indian Navy just off the Anda-man Islands. Indian intelligence agencies were of the opinion that the boat was on a spy mission.
On its part, Japan too wants to counter the growing influence of China in the South East Asia region. It feels that security of India needs to be strengthened to face any challenge from China.
