Shanghai, Nov 14: Indian and Chinese naval ships left here today for conducting the first-ever joint naval exercise off the coast of Shanghai in the south China Sea. The three Indian warships, INS Ranjit, a guided-missile destroyer; INS Kulish, a guided-missile corvette and INS Jyoti, a replenishment tanker set off this morning from Shanghai port here in east China.
The Indian warships would be met in the sea by two Chinese warships, 'jia Xing', a frigate and 'Feng Chang', a tanker.
INS Jyoti would not be taking part in the exercises.
Once the ships reach a pre-determined spot in the south China Sea, they would launch the search and rescue exercise, which is described as the first step in the evolving stronger ties between the Indian and Chinese navies.
"We are all set for the joint exercise and it would last for three-and-a-half hours," the flag officer commanding of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy, Rear Admiral R P Suthan told reporters.
The exercise would involve a simulated emergency situation on ships of both sides and rescue efforts that would also involve the use of helicopters, he said.
Bureau Report