US Helping India Monitor Chinese Submarines: US Admiral

The Indian and US Navy are working to track Chinese submarines in the Arabian Sea zone, Admiral Harry Harris Chief of the US Pacific Command (PACOM) said on the sidelines of an international conference in Delhi.

“We work closely with India and improving India’s capabilities to do that kind of surveillance. Chinese submarines are clearly an issue. They are operating in the region. There is sharing of information regarding Chinese maritime movement in the Indian Ocean,” Admiral Harris told various media on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue Thursday.

The Chinese Navy has been active in the region and a Chinese nuclear submarine had docked at Karachi harbour last year. “I think the relationship between China and Pakistan is a matter of concern and I will certainly be discussing it with my Indian counterparts as India is also concerned about that,” he said.

To help Indian capability to track submarines, Washington has cleared the sale of Boeing P-8I Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft.

“That helps us hone our ability to do physical tracking of submarines and ships, and the likes. There is probably nothing that could prevent China from sailing an aircraft carrier into the Indian Ocean today,” Admiral Harris said.