US and India discuss joint South China Sea patrols
February 10, 2016  23:37
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The United States and India have held talks about conducting joint naval patrols that a US defense official said could include the disputed South China Sea, a move that would likely anger Beijing, which claims most of the waterway.

Washington wants its regional allies and other Asian nations to take a more united stance against China over the South China Sea, where tensions have spiked in the wake of Beijing's construction of seven man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago.

India and the United States have ramped up military ties in recent years, holding naval exercises in the Indian Ocean that last year involved the Japanese navy.

The US and India have taken no decision on conducting joint naval patrols, the Pentagon today said but stressed the two countries were exploring ways to expand defence their ties, amid reports that the naval patrols may include the disputed South China Sea.

The response from Defence Department spokesman Commander Bill Urban came as media reports suggested that India and the US recently held talks about conducting joint naval patrols in areas that may include the disputed South China Sea.

"On the matter of joint patrols, no decisions have been made and we do not have any additional details to provide at this time," Urban told PTI.

"The United States and India continue to explore ways to deepen our defense cooperation, including in the area of maritime security," Urban said, without giving the details of the areas likely to be covered under the proposition.

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