Chief of Indian Naval staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba admitted the major concern in the South China Sea as China has gone and changed the status quo and it obfuscates the very notion of Freedom of Navigation.

Photo Credit : BW Defence,

Chief of Indian Naval Command, Admiral Sunil Lanba, while speaking at the Navy Day Press Conference, has voiced his concern over the very concept of the Freedom of Navigation under threat in the South China Sea. Interacting with BW Defence, Admiral Lamba said: "China has gone and changed the status quo in the South China Sea. It is not only a concern for us but a concern of world at large. We need to follow rule based order and we need to follow the international norms and agreement. One cannot choose and cherry pick."

China is artificially building island and creating a sphere of influence around through various tactical obstructions along the way. Recently, the situation became more tense and U.S. Navy destroyer sailed near islands claimed by China in the disputed South China Sea. The move was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as China’s efforts to limit the freedom of navigation in the strategic waters, where Chinese, Japanese and some Southeast Asian navies operate.

This year, China raised objection to the presence of Indian Navy ships in the region while it has significantly expanded its presence since 2009. Under the maritime exercise, Guided missile stealth frigates INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri; INS Shakti, and INS Kirch, a guided missile corvette, had set sail on a two-and-a-half month long operational deployment to the South China Sea and North West Pacific.

Replying over the question that if the Indian Navy is planning more such exercises in the South China sea, Admiral Lamba said that Government is in discussion with number of countries and they talked about Indo-Pacific being the open and inclusive ocean with Freedom of Navigation.