Two Indigenously Built Indian Warships To Take Part In Chinese Fleet Review In Quingdao

Even amidst the continuing decades-old bitterness and suspicion between the two Asian giants, the Indian Navy has dispatched two indigenously made warships to take part in the naval fleet review organised by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to commemorate its 70th anniversary, in Quingdao, reports Hindustan Times.

INS Kolkata, a stealth guided missile destroyer and INS Shakti, a fleet supporter are taking part in the show which will commence on 21 April.

President Xi Jinping, on 23 April will review the programme and inspect all the participating vessels. Pakistani Navy is unlikely to send any of its ships to the event.

The current heavy deployment of the Indian Navy in north of Arabian Sea is one of the reasons behind Pakistan’s withdrawal from the occasion. Pakistan, earlier, had shown interest to send two of its ships.

India, in 2014, sent two of its front line ships to a similar event that was held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the PLA Navy. The INS Shivalik had taken part then. The vessel shot into lime light when the Indian authorities declined the Chinese naval chief’s request to show the Combat Information Centre.