‘Bullying Smaller Navies At Sea Poses Clear And Present Danger’: Indian Navy Chief Targets China For Harassing Philippines Navy

The Indian Navy chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, criticised China for bullying smaller navies, while speaking at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2023 in New Delhi.

The IPRD is an annual apex-level international conference of the Indian Navy which is being held from 15 to 17 November.

The event will include a keynote address by the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar, on 15 November 2023, and a series of special addresses by union ministers and senior officers of the Government of India (GoI).

According to a statement released by the GoI, IPRD is the principal manifestation of the Navy’s international engagement at the strategic-level, addressing 'holistic' maritime security issues across the Indo-Pacific.

The theme of IPRD-2023 is 'Geopolitical Impacts upon Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity'.

During the conference, Admiral Hari Kumar stated, "Fragile security situation in South China sea with respect to the growing number of instances of bullying of smaller navies including fisherman by Chinese Militia vessel which poses clear and present danger to good order at sea."

He was referring to the attempts by China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) militia vessels, which are preventing the Philippines Navy's supply missions to its remote outpost at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea (SCS).

In 1999, the Philippines Navy deliberately grounded its World War II-era transport ship, the 'Sierra Madre,' at Second Thomas Shoal and converted it into a military outpost.

Since then, a contingent of Philippine Marines has remained stationed there, asserting the country's claim to the area. China claims the entire SCS, as well as the Spratly Islands, of which Second Thomas Shoal is a part.

The Philippines regularly conducts supply missions to this outpost, but China is preventing them using illegal measures, including ramming its militia vessels and using water cannons on Philippine supply ships.

The Philippines has also started taking countermeasures against these illegal Chinese moves.

It has deliberately brought international attention to the contentious situation by inviting media outlets to witness encounters at sensitive reefs.

This demonstrates the Philippines' willingness to safeguard its foothold, countering China's assertion of dominance."

Also Read: Here Is How Philippines Is Standing Against Chinese Bullying In South China Sea, And How Long Can It Last?