Soon after the Galwan valley clash in the eastern Ladakh sector on June 15, the Indian Navy deployed its frontline warship in the South China Sea, which China claims to be of its own, reported news agency ANI. Though the relations between the neighbouring countries have improved after the clash between Chinese and Indian troops in which 20 soldiers of Indian Army were killed, China has expressed its discomfort over the presence of the warship in the South China Sea.

Shortly after June 15 incident “the Indian Navy deployed one of its frontline warship to the South China Sea where the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy objects to the presence of any other force, claiming the majority of the waters as part of its territory,” Government sources told ANI.

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China has raised objection on the immediate deployment of Indian frontline warship in the South China Sea during the diplomatic level talks being held between the two sides to solve the eastern Ladakh dispute, sources told ANI. China claims around 90% of the South China Sea and has expanded its presence there since 2009 through artificial islands and military presence.

The Indian warship, during the deployment, was in continuous contact with its American counterparts, deployed by the US Navy in the South China Sea, sources told ANI. They said that Indian warship was being constantly updated about the movements of other countries’ military vessels to avoid any public glare on the Navy’s activities.

As per the report, the Indian Navy had also deployed its frontline vessels around the Malacca Straits, from where the Chinese Navy enters the Indian Ocean region.