In an article titled “Russia, China’s rejection of Hague ruling sets tone for SCS exercises”, carried by The Hindu and written by Atul Aneja, the author relates how:
“Diplomatic sources had earlier told The Hindu that the Russians and the Chinese had come to an understanding that the exercises would not be held in disputed waters. They added that the Russians have been sending a dual signal. While they are conveying to the United States that they stand by the Chinese, they are at the same time preserving their strategic relationship with Vietnam, which hotly contests Chinese claims in the Spratly islands in the SCS.”
In another article titled “India, U.S. to hold military exercises in Uttarakhand, close to China border”, carried by the International Business Times and written by Aditya Bhat, the journalist puts the drills in context by remarking how:
“This will be the first Yudh Abhyas 2016 exercise after India and U.S. signed a significant logistics agreement, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). Critics, though, have billed it as a defence pact.”
Kirill Koktysh, an associate professor of Political Science at Moscow State University of International Relations (MGIMO); Minh Le, Vietnamese military commentator; and Abbas Shamael Rizvi, political observer from India joined our discussion.
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