‘We are better together, that’s our strategic message to China, others’

Rear Admiral William D Byrne Jr. Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, at the opening of the joint naval exercise between US, India and Japan - Malabar 2017, said that the message sent to China is this: “The strategic message to China is the exact same strategic message that we are sending to Republic of Korea, Canada, or to Australia or to any other maritime force. 

The message is that operating in the sea together is a good thing, because we are better together and we learn from one another and about one another. 

We know who we are and what we are capable of doing. That is the strategic message we are sending to the whole world. I think we are setting a great example with Malabar 2017,” said the naval official. The Malabar exercise is taking place amid the ongoing military standoff between armies of India and China in the Sikkim section and Beijing ramping up its naval presence in South China Sea. 

HCS Bisht, Indian Flag Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, said that too much shouldn’t be read into this exercise. 

“The stand-off (Dokalam) has nothing to do with Malabar. This exercise is meant for enhancing interoperability, mutual confidence, sharing of best practices.

Malabar 2017 is not to send a message to any specific country. The underlying theme of Malabar is to understand each other’s standard operating procedures and each other’s ways of working better, to enhance camaraderie and bonhomie,” he added. 

US Commander Byrne also added that the strength of the navy is important because the United States has interests in the Indian Ocean. 

“Our participation in Malabar ’17 and past Malabars indicate our interests in maritime security in the Indo-Asia Pacific region,” he said. 

To a query on the conduct of Malabar exercise vis-à-vis the situation prevailing around North Korea, the US Commander Byrne said, “There are certainly global threats. 

Malabar is not focused on any specified threat. It is directed towards three countries India, Japan and United States. It is not directed towards any specific country or threat.”