The Indian Navy said on Thursday that it will open the third military base in the far-off Andaman and Nicobar islands to beef up surveillance of Chinese vessels and ships entering the Indian Ocean via the nearby Straits of Malacca.

印度军方表示，24日将启用其位于安达曼和尼克巴群岛的第三个军事基地，目的是加强监视那些经马六甲海峡驶入印度洋的中国船只及舰艇。

Some foreign media are provoking the situation, saying that India intends to "confront China." In this regard, Ding Hao, deputy director of the Asian-African Military Affairs Office of the Foreign Military Studies Department under the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) Academy of Military Sciences, said that the Andaman and Nicobar islands, adjacent to the Straits of Malacca, are overseas territories of Dominion of India and that it is a normal move for the Indian military to establish military bases there.

有外媒借此挑唆称印度此举意在“对抗中国”。对此，军事科学院外国军事研究部亚非军事研究室副主任丁皓表示，邻近马六甲海峡的安达曼和尼克巴群岛是印度联邦的海外属地，印军在此建立军事基地是正常军事行为。

Ding also stressed that all the "going global" behaviors of the Chinese military are to safeguard the peace and stability of the world and safeguard China's own overseas interests, not to threaten any country or region.

他同时强调，中国军队所有“走出去”的行为是为了维护世界的和平与稳定，为了维护中国自身的海外利益，不会威胁到任何国家和地区。

Indian experts and scholars said the purpose of Indian Navy was to strengthen the surveillance of Chinese ships and submarines entering the Indian Ocean through the Straits of Malacca, according to a report on Thursday by Reuters.

路透社24日称，印度专家和学者表示，此举目的是加强监视那些经马六甲海峡驶入印度洋的中国船只和舰艇。

In response to Indian concerns about China's military presence, Ding said that China has always advocated enhancing strategic mutual trust with India at all levels, so it is not necessary to exaggerate Indian military use of their third naval base or Chinese Navy's entering the Indian Ocean.

针对印度对中国军事存在的担忧，丁皓表示，中国一直主张与印度在各个层面上增强战略互信，所以印度军方启用第三个海军基地的行为没有必要渲染，中国海军到印度洋去也不需要过分夸张和渲染。

The "China threat" theory is repeatedly mentioned whenever Chinese ships appear in the Indian Ocean. Ding commented that India regards the Indian Ocean as its own "backyard" and thinks relevant security issues should be handled by India. Therefore, it is inevitable for India to have some negative views toward China, Ding added.

每当中国船只出现在印度洋，“中国威胁”的论调就被反复提及。丁皓对此评论称，印度将印度洋视为自家“后院”，安全问题应该由印度负责，难免对中国有一些负面看法。

However, Ding stressed that the main purpose of the Chinese Navy's entering the Indian Ocean is to maintain the safety of the maritime channel. Given that Pirates are very active and Chinese ships sailing to and from Africa, the Middle East and South Asia all need to go through the Indian Ocean, the aim of the Chinese Navy's entering the Indian Ocean is not only for its own interests. Instead, it also aims to protect the safety of ships from all countries, said Ding.

但他强调，中国海军驶入印度洋的主要目的也是为了维护印度洋海上航道的安全，印度洋上海盗猖獗，中国船只往来非洲、中东、南亚地区都需经过印度洋，中国海军去到印度洋不仅是为了自身利益，更是为了所有国家船只的安全。

Disclaimer: The author is Ren Zhong, reporter with the Global Times. The article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author from the Global Times and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.