The second phase of the Malabar naval wargaming exercise with the four Quad members – India, US, Japan and Australia – will take place in the Bay of Bengal October 12-15.  It will focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare and "build upon the synergy, coordination and interoperability developed during the first phase of the exercise", the Indian Navy said. 

Despite insisting that the Quad is not a military alliance against China, the timing and the nature of the exercises have clearly one adversary in mind - China and its increasing postures in the Indo Pacific region, the latest being against democratic Taiwan which it wants to be "reunited" with Communist China, if necessary, by force.

 The first phase of Malabar 2021 was held in the Philippines Sea between August 26-29.

 India will be represented by INS Ranvijay, INS Satpura, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a submarine in the multilateral exercise.

 For the US, Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson along with two destroyers, USS Lake Champlain and USS Stockdale, will participate. Japan Maritime Self Defence Force will be represented by JS Kaga and JS Murasame; and the Royal Australian Navy will be represented by HMAS Ballarat and HMAS Sirius. 

“The Second Phase of the exercise would build upon the synergy, coordination and interoperability developed during the first phase of the exercise and would focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare,” the Navy statement said.