Maritime Security

China's dispute with Japan over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea is heating up again, with both sides accusing the other of infringing on their maritime territory. China says the islands belong to it and refuses to recognize Japan's claim to the uninhabited chain known as the Senkakus in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Taiwan also claims the islands, which it calls Diaoyutai, but has signed access agreements for its fishermen with Japan and does not actively take part in the dispute. China routinely sends coast guard vessels and planes into waters and airspace surrounding the islands to harass Japanese vessels in the area and force Japan to scramble jets in response. On Wednesday, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson said Chinese vessels had expelled some Japanese vessels which had illegally entered the territorial waters. The unidentified official said its moves were routine measures to safeguard sovereignty and maritime interests. Japan's coast guard on Thursd

Now the IFC-IOR's partnership with the RCOC, Seychelles, allows the Indian Navy to focus its watch further south

Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill which provides for prevention of maritime piracy and stringent punishment to those convicted of such crimes. The Rajya Sabha passed the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2022 by voice vote on Wednesday. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday. Moving the bill for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it has provisions for the prevention of maritime piracy, will strengthen India's maritime security and give it an effective legal instrument to combat the menace. The bill will also enable the country fulfil its international obligations and improve India's standing at global forums. "Ensuring maritime security is key to safeguard India's security and economic wellbeing," he said. The bill was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019 and referred to the Standing Committee on External Affairs for examination. Jaishankar said the ministry had held several rounds of extensive ...

Lok Sabha passed the Anti-maritime Piracy Bill, 2019 that seeks to provide an effective legal instrument to combat piracy not only in territorial waters and the EEZ but also on the high seas

Amid China's growing assertiveness, defence minister Rajnath Singh has reaffirmed India's call for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region

India vowed to support all national, regional and international efforts for strengthening maritime security, including in the Gulf of Guinea, in consultation with countries of the region

"Coastal security being a major sub-set of coastal defence, the concept of 'Exercise Sea Vigil' is to activate the coastal security apparatus across India," stated the Ministry of Defence

A group of senior US officials will travel to India next week to attend the US-India 2+2 Intersessional Meeting and Maritime Security Dialogue, according to the State Department. The delegation visiting India during September 5-8 will be led by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu. Its objective is to deepen the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the department said in a statement on Saturday. Lu will be joined by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Camille Dawson for a Quad Senior Officials Meeting and Department of Defense Assistant Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner for a US-India 2+2 Intersessional Meeting and Maritime Security Dialogue, it said. "The delegation will meet with senior Indian officials to discuss ways in which the United States and India can expand our cooperation to support a free and open, connected, prosperous, resilient, and secure ...

Indonesian president Widodo Joko even signed an order to divide the Natuna marine area into regulated zones

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the impressive handover ceremony which took place on a day when India celebrated its 76th Independence Day

Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhat said India was committed to tackling maritime challenges through a collaborative and regulation-based system to foster growth in coastal nations.

Indian Coast Guard Director General VS Pathania called on Rajnath Singh and discussed operational preparedness of the maritime force and readiness to ensure safety and security in seas.

The Indian Navy is looked upon as a preferred security partner by the country's maritime neighbours and it has a huge role to play in furthering India's foreign policy, President Kovind said

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Indian Coast Guard had initially started with less than than six boats and today it has more than 150 ships, and 66 aircraft

India and Vietnam navies have carried out bilateral maritime exercise in the South China Sea, the Indian navy said on Wednesday.

PM put forward 5 principles, including removing barriers for maritime trade and peaceful settlement of disputes, on the basis of which global roadmap for maritime security cooperation can be prepared

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for peaceful settlement of disputes as per international law and for jointly combating maritime threats posed by non-state actors

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level open debate on "Enhancing Maritime Security A Case for International Cooperation" on Monday via video conferencing.

India is gearing up to assume the Presidency of the powerful UN body for the month of August

The government is likely to appoint a National Maritime Security Coordinator to ensure cohesive and quicker decision making among multiple organisations that are handling maritime issues in India