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China not to participate in International Fleet Review
China will not participate in the upcoming International Fleet Review (IFR) in India but the Chinese warships will make a port call next year to enhance mutual understanding between the armed forces of the two countries, official sources said.
China will not participate in the upcoming International Fleet Review (IFR) in India but the Chinese warships will make a port call next year to enhance mutual understanding between the armed forces of the two countries, official sources said.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships will not attend the IFR to be held next year in India because of scheduling problems," A chinese ministry of defence spokesman told PTI in Beijing.
However, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will make all efforts to enhance friendly relations with the Indian Army and its ships will visit India at an appropriate time, He said without giving a definite time-frame for the visit.
But sources indicated that it could take place within the first half of 2001.
The IFR is being organised by the Indian Navy off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea from February 15-20. The PLAN ship visit will reciprocate the goodwill port call made by two Indian Navy (IN) ships to the east China port of Shanghai in September this year, sources said.
"China's decision not to take part in the IFR should not be construed as a snub to India, especially when bilateral relations between the countries, including military-to-military ties have shown signs of progress," They said.
The sheer logistics involved seems to have forced the PLAN to opt for the port call rather than the IFR. The huge cost involved in sending warships to distant foreign ports could be another factor which the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) must have considered while taking the decision, a source commented.
Bureau Report
But sources indicated that it could take place within the first half of 2001.
The IFR is being organised by the Indian Navy off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea from February 15-20. The PLAN ship visit will reciprocate the goodwill port call made by two Indian Navy (IN) ships to the east China port of Shanghai in September this year, sources said.
"China's decision not to take part in the IFR should not be construed as a snub to India, especially when bilateral relations between the countries, including military-to-military ties have shown signs of progress," They said.
The sheer logistics involved seems to have forced the PLAN to opt for the port call rather than the IFR. The huge cost involved in sending warships to distant foreign ports could be another factor which the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) must have considered while taking the decision, a source commented.
Bureau Report