US Navy chief Admiral John Richardson will start a three-day visit to India beginning Sunday to meet his counterpart and other senior officers to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two navies against the backdrop of China flexing its muscle in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. The 12-14 May visit will be Richardson's second visit to India as the Chief of Naval Operations. The Indo-Pacific is a vast geographical swathe is land and ocean that includes countries starting from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the US including the contested South China Sea. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan are also claimants. The US has conducted a series of "freedom of navigation" exercises in the South China Sea, triggering protests from Beijing over what it says is infringement of sovereignty.

Source: Mint May 11, 2019 04:30 UTC