“All these deployments are to maintain a strict vigil in the Indian Ocean in the event of any security problems escalating,” said D.K. Sharma, a former Indian Navy Captain.

Earlier this month, the Indian Navy carried out maritime exercises with its U.S. counterparts in the Indian Ocean, with the two nations forming a strategic alliance with Japan and Australia, known as “The Quad”.

A fifth-round of deadlocked talks between India and China over Ladakh will commence later this week.

On Friday, India said an agreement had been reached for “early and complete disengagement” at the Pangong Tso flashpoint but politicians from India’s opposition Congress Party say satellite footage shows new Chinese constructions on land seized from Indian in May.

Troop build-up is continuing on both sides of the border, with a further 30,000 Indian soldiers to deploy along the Line of Actual Control, while New Delhi paraded the long-awaited arrival of five new state-of-the-art Rafale fighter jets yesterday.

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing has reiterated its commitment to “jointly safeguard peace and stability in the border areas” ahead of further talks.