Even though diplomatic relations with China are once again back on track, the Indian Navy is on full alert in the Indian Ocean and is keeping a close watch on all the warships and research vessels of the Chinese Navy. Also, the Navy has not taken any decision regarding the invitation of China in the International Fleet Review (IFR) event to be held in February next year.
Addressing the curtain raiser press conference of IFR on Friday (October 31, 2025) in the capital Delhi, Indian Navy Vice Chief (Co-Chief) Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsyayan made it clear that the Indian Navy completely monitors all the ships that enter the Indian Ocean till they leave.
Vice Chief speaks on China’s PLA-Navy spying
In response to a question that China’s PLA-Navy reconnaissance ships come to the Indian Ocean to spy on India’s missile tests, Admiral Vatsayan said that we are fully aware of these incidents and the ships of extra-regional powers are kept under watch.
The Vice Admiral, however, did not term the news of an American research vessel arriving in Maldives this month as a matter of concern. Indian Navy DG (Operations) Vice Admiral N Pramod, who was present at the press conference, said that the American ship had entered the Indian Ocean for space monitoring and had nothing to do with India’s missile test.
Along with China, America also keeps an eye on India
In fact, earlier this month, India had issued NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for a long-range missile test. The distance of this missile test was increased thrice in a week, but during the same time, research vessels of China and America reached the Indian Ocean. In such a situation, speculations were being made whether after China, America has also started spying on India’s missiles. The Indian Navy has put an end to all these speculations.
The Vice Chief also told that in the last week of next month (November), the Indian Navy is going to participate in the joint exercise Malabar with the navies of America, Japan and Australia. This exercise is going to be held this year in America’s area of responsibility in Guayam (Pacific Ocean).
#WATCH Delhi: Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan says, “There is a continuous presence of extra-regional powers in the Indian Ocean region due to the ongoing situation. It has always been that and it’s only increasing. At any given point of time, we have a minimum of… pic.twitter.com/7LqpMN3eou
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2025
international maritime event
Vice Admiral Vatsyayan said that President Draupadi Murmu will review the war fleets of the Indian Navy and friendly countries in the IFR. IFR is being organized on 18 February 2026 in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Visakhapatnam. Navies of a total of 55 countries including Russia and America are participating in this international maritime event held once in ten years.
On the question whether the Chinese Navy has also been invited to participate in this event, the Vice Admiral did not give any clear answer. In such a situation, there is a possibility that the invitation for IFR has not been sent to the Chinese Navy.
Did Chinese Navy also get invitation for IFR?
The special thing is that in the IFR held in the year 2016, invitation was sent to the Chinese Navy and PLA-Navy officers also participated, but in the last ten years, after the Doklam dispute and Galwan Valley clash, military relations with China have turned sour. Relations are also not normal because of provoking Pakistan against India.
The armies of India and China have agreed to end the tension on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) adjacent to eastern Ladakh. This time last year (2024), the armies of both the countries had signed a disengagement agreement and had also withdrawn the troops from the disputed areas. Last week itself, the corps commanders of both the countries had met for the 24th time to end the dispute, but the Indian Navy is making bold moves in the Indian Ocean.
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