Indian Warships Sail To South China Sea; Germany Deploys Frigate

India is sending a naval task force to the South China Sea (SCS) this month to expand security ties with friendly countries, officials said, signaling its intent to play a bigger role in regional efforts to counter China.

Photo Insert: Through this deployment of warships, India reaffirms their commitment to the QUAD

The Indian military has been traditionally wary of antagonizing China but the mood has hardened following clashes between troops on the disputed land border last year. The government has since drawn closer to the United States in efforts to push back against China, Sanjeev Miglani reported for Reuters.

Four ships including a guided-missile destroyer and a missile frigate will be deployed for a two-month period to Southeast Asia, the SCS, and the Western Pacific, the navy said in a statement.

"The deployment of the Indian Navy ships seeks to underscore the operational reach, peaceful presence, and solidarity with friendly countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain..." the navy said.

Sabine Siebold of Reuters also reported on Monday that Germany has sent a warship to the SCS for the first time in almost two decades, joining other Western nations in expanding its military presence in the region amid growing alarm over China's territorial ambitions.

China claims swathes of the SCS and has established military outposts on artificial islands in the waters that contain gas fields and rich fishing.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said, "we want existing law to be respected, sea routes to be freely navigable, open societies to be protected and trade to follow fair rules." Germany does not recognize China’s claims to maritime features in the SCS.

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