China's People Liberation Army (PLA) today said that the crossings of its submarines across the Indian Ocean were "legitimate" and "follow international practice".

India has been closely following the increasing frequency of Chinese submarine deployments in the neighbourhood, with PLA Navy Yuan-class submarines last year, making a first ever port call to Karachi and also stopping in Colombo.

The deployments have been seen as demonstrating the new reach of the PLA Navy, which has in the past rarely deployed its vessels and submarines far beyond China's coastlines.

Asked about India's concerns, PLA Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, said the submarine deployments were "legitimate" and followed international practice.

"The Chinese submarines crossed some of the sea areas and those crossings are legitimate and legal, and we follow international practices," Senior Colonel Yang told reporters in a rare freewheeling interaction today.

When asked why China was on the other hand objecting to military deployments in the South China Sea, Col. Yang pointed out that Beijing had never objected to Indian deployments.

"I want to point out one thing. You said when Indian ships enter the South China Sea, [we are saying] it is wrong. But where did you hear that? I am from the Ministry of Defence and I never said that."

"If it is done in accordance with international law and as freedom of navigation, that should be lawful," he added. "Such movement should be helpful for country-to-country relations and for peace and stability in the region. All those kind of moves should be welcomed".

ANTI-PIRACY COOPERATION WITH INDIA

The PLA Senior Colonel stressed that India and China were working well together in the Indian Ocean Region, as evident in the way both countries have closely coordinated anti-piracy escort missions in the Gulf of Aden. "Since 2008, China's navy has sent over 23 fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia for escort missions and provided more than 6,000 services. We have cooperated well with the Indian Navy".

He said both sides were "deepening cooperation" in technical areas. "Thanks to efforts of leaders, bilateral relations are developing steadily and there is a high level of strategic communication and exchange of visits. In terms of border exchanges also, we maintain very good communication and we are both working hard to safeguard peace and tranquility on the border."

SOUTH CHINA SEA TENSIONS

Many of the questions that the Senior Colonel faced in his interaction with reporters revolved around the South China Sea, with a ruling on the arbitration initiated by the Philippines expected on July 12. The tribunal will deliver a verdict on whether or not some of China's claims are consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China has deemed the arbitration tribunal illegitimate and did not take part in the proceedings. But rulings on the validity of some of China's claims, including its "nine-dash line" that covers much of the South China Sea and is claimed by China on the basis of "historical rights", could have regional ramifications and push other claimants in the dispute to seek arbitration, officials say.

Col. Yang hinted at the role of "outside countries" in fanning the dispute, with Beijing in recent weeks hitting out at the U.S. for carrying out "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea and for what Beijing sees as tacit support to other claimants such as the Philippines and Vietnam.

Washington has also led the opposition to China's moves to carry out reclamation projects on contested islands and reefs and to set up infrastructure, including runways, on them. Earlier this month, a top US diplomat, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, on a visit to Delhi even described Beijing's moves as "madness", prompting an angry rebuttal from China.

"I want to reiterate that what ever the complexities that may emerge, China is not the troublemaker," Senior Colonel Yang said. "The activities carried out by the Chinese side are legitimate, reasonable, professional and responsible. Some countries particularly outside the region come to the South China Sea under various pretexts? in an attempt to make provocations and troubles."

On US deployments in the South China Sea, Senior Colonel Yang said, "We want to ask, why are you here? Are you here to promote peace or to provoke incidents? We have a saying in China: the trees want to be tranquil but the problem is the wind. The South China Sea is an issue among parties concerned. We want to work with parties to safeguard this tree, but now there is a wind from outside. Is that a tornado or typhoon we don't know, but we know that it comes from outside".