In a first, Chinese warship docks at Mumbai port

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 20

India and China today entered a small footnote, a positive one, in their rather acrimonious military history with New Delhi allowing “rest and recuperation” facilities to a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship.

In a first, Jinan, a Luyang II-class Guided Missile Destroyer, tonight called on at Mumbai, Indian Navy Western command.

The warship is on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden and needed replenishment of stocks, rations and fuel for which it will be stocked from Mumbai.

It will halt in Mumbai for four days before sailing back to Salalah, Oman, on July 24.

The move comes only two months after a joint statement between the two nations — during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Beijing in May — showed intent to cooperate. “The two sides will exchange visits of naval ships,” the statement had said.

In the past, Chinese warships have made a port call at Vishakhapatnam on the east coast. But this is the first time that a “turnaround facility” is being provided. The matter of allowing such facilities was raised during the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) in Beijing in April.

The two countries, edgy over each other’s claims and counter-claims along the 3,488 km-long Himalayan frontier, have negligible military exchange. Rather, India is suspicious of China joining hands with Pakistan and launching a simultaneous two-front war.