PLA submarines in Indian Ocean legitimate, says China

TIL Desk/World/Seoul- Defending the movement of its submarines in the Indian Ocean as “legitimate” and in accordance with “international practices”, China today said it never objected to the presence of Indian naval ships in the disputed South China Sea as long they follow the principles of freedom of navigation.

“Talking about the submarines, the Chinese submarines cross some of sea areas and those crossings are legitimate and legal and follow the international practices,” China’s defence Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said during a media interaction here, when asked about the movement of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean area which has raised India’s concerns.

Asked if the movement of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean is legitimate then why China considers Indian naval ships presence as “wrong”, Yang said China has never taken such a stand.