Playing down the issue of docking of Chinese submarines at Sri Lanka ports, Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan on Thursday said that eventhough the issue was a strictly bilateral one involving Colombo and Beijing, New Delhi kept a watch on every activity taking place in the Indian Ocean.

“They (Chinese submarines) are in Sri Lanka waters. They are visiting Sri Lankan ports. That is an issue between the Sri Lankan Navy and Chinese,” Dhowan said, adding that the Chinese had never approached India for any replenishment for its submarines. “It is the responsibility of the Navy to safeguard the maritime interests of the country and we monitor all the activities in the maritime domain in our area of interest,” he said.

Dhowan was speaking at arrival of the French Navy Chief Admiral Bernard Rogel, who arrived on a six-day visit, during which he will tour Naval facilities in Goa and Mumbai, besides seeing the Mazagon Dock which is building six Scorpene submarines with help of a French firm.

Outlining the importance of his visit, Rogel said: “India has been a strategic partner to France for years.”

(TNIE)