Reports noted that Vice Admiral DK Joshi, a highly-decorated anti-submarine warfare specialist, will be the new Indian Navy chief in the rank of admiral, an official announcement said in Mumbai on June 12, 2012. He will take over from incumbent Admiral Nirmal Verma, who will retire on August 31, 2012. Vice Admiral Joshi (58) is currently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, the Indian Navy's sword arm. During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly four decades, Joshi has served in different command, staff and instructional appointments. His sea command includes guided missile corvette INS Kuthar, guided missile destroyer INS Ranvir and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Prior to taking over his present assignment, Joshi served as the navy's deputy chief, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command and Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff. Joshi has been awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal, the Ati Vishist Seva medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Nau Sena Medal and the Vishist Seva Medal. 1

In another development, according to reports, a top officer of the East Sea Fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has called for improving trust with India and boosting exchanges, ahead of passage exercises between the two navies. Rear Admiral Gu Xiangping, who is the Deputy Commander of the Chinese East Sea Fleet, called for “enhancing trust and understanding” between the militaries and navies of India and China, and increasing the frequency of interactions. In what officials described as a reflection of the importance China has accorded to the visit of four Indian naval ships, which arrived in Shanghai harbor on a rare port call on June 13, 2012 after stops in Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan, the PLAN dispatched the highest ranked official in charge of the East Sea fleet, Vice Admiral Su Zhiqian, from its headquarters in Ningbo. He held talks with Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, who came in from India only for the port calls in China and Japan. The visit of the Indian navy ships, which include the indigenous built guided missile stealth frigate Shivalik, destroyer Rana, corvette Karmuk and fleet tanker Shakti, has been described by the Indian and the Chinese officials as the highlight of defence exchanges this year.

• 1. “DK Joshi named new Indian Navy chief,” Hindustan Times, June 05, 2012, at http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/DK-Joshi-named-new-India...