'India, China clash off Somalia'

Medeshi Feb 6, 2009
'India, China clash off Somalia'
The two Chinese warships and an Indian submarine have reportedly faced off during an anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia
The incident occurred on Jan. 15 in the waters near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, Qingdao Chenbao, a Chinese daily reported Wednesday.
The Indian submarine 'stalked' the Chinese warships and they were "locked in a tense standoff for at least half an hour," the daily noted.
The standoff reportedly ended when the Indian vessel left without further confrontation.
However, an Indian Navy spokesperson told reporters in New Delhi that "no Indian submarine surfaced in the area". Chinese authorities have not officially commented on the incident.
The Gulf of Aden has turned into an extremely hazardous place for commercial ships thanks to frequent attacks on the vessels by Somalia-based pirates.
India and China fought a brief but bloody border war in 1962. Relations between the two countries have remained tense since the conflict.
The two are among several countries that have deployed warships to patrol the sea lanes in the area