The manouvres are not aimed at forming a "quadilateral front" against China. There is no effort on our part or any of these other countries (participating in the exercises) to isolate China or put Beijing in a closet," said Admiral Timothy J Keating, who heads the Pacific command of the US navy.
Admiral Keating, who is on a four-day visit here to discuss ties between the Indian and US navies, denied any attempt by the participating nations – India, Australia, Japan, USA and Singapore – to form the grouping, popularly described as Asian NATO.
Interestingly, Japan’s defence minister Yuriko Koike called on her Indian counterpart A K Antony on Friday to reaffirm both nations’ commitment towards maritime security.
Chief of Australian Navy Vice-Admiral Russ Eric Shalders was also in the capital last week discussing the Malabar exercise as well as other aspects of the bilateral naval ties with the Indian officials.
Massive show
Apprehending formation of a regional anti-China group, Beijing has openly voiced its concerns against the exercise, which is going to see the largest gathering of warships in the Bay of Bengal since the 1971 Bangladesh war.
As many as 20 odd battleships including the US nuclear powered aircraft carrier Nimitz and conventionally powered carrier Kitty Hawk will be taking part in the exercise. The exercise is scheduled between September 4 and 9.
But Admiral Keating said: “Rather than giving the perception that we are isolating China, we are seeking to embrace them, to the extent we should and we can and want to and the extent they want to.
China had been invited to observe some exercises organised by the US in Hawaii and the gathering of American defence chiefs in October, he said. "It is up to them (to participate)," he noted, adding that this Malabar exercise would reflect the common naval interest shared by these countries.
In the last two days, the admiral has met the Indian military top brass including the three service chiefs, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Foreign Secretary Shiv Sankar Menon.
Asked about the friendly relations between New Delhi and Washington, he said the two countries respected each other's sovereignty and the partnership in the military sphere is much more robust now.
Terror threat
Apprehensions, said Admiral Keating, about terrorists using sea routes to sustain their campaign were well-grounded. He suggested counter-measures like the Container Security Initiative needed to be ratified soon.
"Such fears are realistic as terrorists are feeling hemmed in their present sanctuaries and the possibilities of their use of maritime domain are alive. A joint strategy needs to be evolved to combat such tactics,” he said.
Floated by the US post 9/11, the Container Security Initiative stipulates that all US-bound cargos should be checked by the US customs at originating ports.
The CSI has already been under consideration in the cabinet, with the government moving to designate Mumbai’s Jawaharlal Nehru port to allow US officials to set up a post to check the US-bound cargos.