Indian forces train with US in East China sea

Indian forces and the United States navy recently conducted their annual amphibious training exercise -- Habu Nag -- in the East China Sea, which is designed to enhance their bilateral interoperability, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) is participating in this exercise, while several officers of the Indian armed forces embarked on to observe Navy and Marine amphibious training and to participate in a tabletop exercise.

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The exercise that started on September 29 concluded on Monday.

"A key aspect is that the US has Marines embedded with Navy staff, doing jobs for the Navy that are Marine Corps oriented and vice versa," said Lt Col Evan Holt, a Marine liaison officer assigned to Commander, Task Force 76, who is working with the Indian officers.

"We want to demonstrate how two different services with two different goals mesh their operations and personnel to complete those goals," Holt said.

Cmdr Gagan Kaushal, of the Indian navy said the exercise gives them the chance to get a ground view of how everything is executed.

"It also gives us the chance to get a ground view of how everything is executed," he said.

The Indian military has no marine corps. Instead they deploy a specially trained amphibious army division to perform beach landings.

Officers of that unit worked alongside US Marine representatives to share knowledge and prepare for future scenarios and amphibious operations.

Last year, when the exercise took place at the US Marines base in Okinawa in Japan, India opted not to participate.

While no reason was given for the last minute pull-out, regional sensitivities were thought to be behind the move. Okinawa is located close to China and has a significant US presence where several military bases are concentrated. The island has also been in the news for frequent spotting of Chinese naval vessels, including submarines by Japanese self-defence forces.