Indian navy ships to join exercises in Indo-Pacific

India is sending four navy ships for exercises and port visits with the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as China’s maritime power grows in the area

NEW DELHI -- India is sending four navy ships for exercises and port visits with the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, its navy said Wednesday, as China's maritime power grows in the area. The Indian ships will spend more than two months in the region, the navy said in a statement. Commander Vivek Madhwal, the Indian navy spokesman, said four ships will take part. The ships will also participate in a multilateral exercise, MALABAR-21, along with the Japanese, Australian and U.S. navies, the statement said.