19 JULY 2015

Ø  China has confirmed its participation in the Indian International Fleet Review (IFR) in Visakhapatnam in February 2016, official sources told The Hindu. This is the first time the Chinese Navy will take part in the event. “Their participation will be in terms of both ship and personnel,” a senior Navy official said. The specifics are being worked out. The development comes at a time of growing competition between the two countries for strategic space in the Indian Ocean with the Chinese Navy’s increasing forays into the region. Commenting on this,?the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R.K. Dhowan, recently said that “Chinese naval activities are being closely monitored.” Despite the growing maritime friction, both nations agreed?on increasing bilateral naval cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit?to China. “The two sides will exchange visits of naval ships and hold PASSEX [passing exercises] and SAR [search and rescue] exercises,”