New Delhi: The Indian Navy is practicing to operate in the South China Sea to protect its economic assets.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi Admiral D K Joshi told reporters that "Where our country's interests are involved, we will protect them and we will intervene."

The Eastern Naval Command - which looks at India's eastern sea board and likely to play a key role when the Navy is deployed in South China Sea- is also being strengthened.


Admiral Joshi said apart from three stealth frigates, the nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra and INS Jalashva, the amphibious landing ship which is also the biggest platform after INS Viraat, India's lone aircraft carrier.

The decision to use the Navy in the South China Sea comes days after Chinese state media announced that the southern Hainan province, which administers the South China Sea, approved laws giving its police the right to search vessels that pass through the waters. Also Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and India protested a map on a new Chinese passport that depicts disputed areas as belonging to China. The Philippines also issued a statement saying it wants Beijing to "clarify its reported plans to interdict ships that enter what it considers its territory in the South China Sea," the Associated Press reported over the weekend. [link to www.ndtv.com]