India not worried about Chinese presence in Indian Ocean: Economic Times

India on Tuesday indicated that it was not too worried over China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean region, after Beijing opened a new embassy in the Maldives ahead of last week’s SAARC summit in the island nation, reports the Economic Times.

“Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters that such efforts by China in the region cannot be prevented, but the only cause for worry was Beijing building military infrastructure along India’s borders and expansion of its defence capabilities.

“‘How can you prevent any country from establishing an embassy or furthering relations with any other country in the world,’ Antony asked, when his response was sought on Beijing setting up its embassy in the Maldives last week.

“We are also establishing embassies and building relations with every country. It is a natural process,” he said.

However, “China is expanding its military capabilities and building military infrastructure along the borders with us. We know that…we are aware of that, and we are concerned about that,” Antony said.

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