India - Japan Maritime Exercise

• 25 Jul 2022

Why in News?

Recently, a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) was conducted between Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Indian Navy in the Andaman Sea.

• Other Maritime Exercises between India & Japan:
  • Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX)
  • Malabar Exercise (India – US – Japan - Australia)

What do we need to know about the Exercise?

• About:
  • The exercises were aimed at enhancing interoperability and streamlining seamanship and communication procedures.
  • This exercise is part of the ongoing efforts between the two navies towards ensuring safe and secure international shipping and trade in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • The two countries have been carrying out regular exercises in IOR towards reinforcing maritime association.
• Participants:
  • INS Sukanya, an offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.
    • The Sukanya class patrol vessels are large, offshore patrol craft.
    • Three lead ships were built by Korea Tacoma, now part of Hanjin Group.
    • Vessels of the Sukanya class are named after notable women from Indian epics.
    • The Sukanya class have large hulls, although they are lightly armed since they are utilized primarily for offshore patrol of India's exclusive economic zone.
  • JS Samidare, a Murasame class destroyer of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.
    • JS Samidare (DD-106) is the sixth ship of the Murasame-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
• Activities:
  • Seamanship activities, aircraft operations and tactical manoeuvres as part of the operational interaction.

What are India’s other Maritime Exercises?

• Thailand:
  • India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT)
• United Kingdom:
  • Konkan - Shakti
• Indonesia:
  • Samudra Shakti
• Singapore:
  • Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)
• Qatar:
  • Zair-Al-Bahr

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral States of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It provides a forum to increase maritime security cooperation, and promote friendly relationships among the member nations.
• The inaugural IONS-2008 was held in New Delhi, India in Feburary, 2008. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy was designated as the Chairman of IONS for the period 2008-10. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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Mains

Q. The time has come for India and Japan to build a strong contemporary relationship, one involving global and strategic partnership that will have a great significance for Asia and the world as a whole’. Comment. (2019)

Source: PIB