Navy chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan on Thursday downplayed China's white paper on defence that focused on a larger role for the communist country's navy, by saying that such vision documents were there for every navy.
Admiral Dhowan also reiterated that India was closely monitoring the activities of China in the Indian ocean.
"Every navy makes out its plan as to what it is supposed to do...what kind of operations it will engage in," Dhowan said in response to a question on the white paper.
"It is natural for any navy to have such plans; it is a normal practice," he said.
China's white paper on defence, released earlier this week, emphasised on a growing role for the communist nation's navy.
The paper said the Chinese navy would "gradually shift its focus from defence of offshore waters alone to combining this with protection of the open seas".
It also said that China would seek to build itself into a "maritime power".
As for Chinese activities in the Indian ocean, Admiral Dhowan said, "Chinese naval activities are being closely monitored. Chinese Navy ships have been present in the Indian Ocean since 2008. Some submarines are also there."
He asserted that the Indian Navy was capable of guarding the national interests in the Indian ocean.
