New Delhi: With the search for missing Malaysian plane turning to India's neighbourhood, China has sought permission for sending its four warships into the Indian waters, causing a major dilemma for the authorities here.
India, which had suspended the search operations for last three days, resumed efforts today to locate the aircraft in South Indian Ocean region.
China, whose 150 nationals are on board the aircraft, has sent a formal request to India to allow their warships including a salvage vessel and two frigates to enter Indian waters in the Andaman Sea to locate the plane, sources said.
The Government, which has been taken by surprise, will take a decision the request after consulting the defence forces, particularly the Navy, the sources said.
The dilemma for the government is because its assets in the Arabian Sea are mainly to guard against China and these could get exposed if the Chinese warships are allowed in.
Meanwhile, Indian Navy and the Air Force along with Coast Guard ships resumed operations to locate the aircraft after keeping them suspended for three days awaiting instruction for looking into new areas.
A Navy official said the Naval and other assets have now been asked to look into the South Indian Ocean stretching south from Jakarta after the request from the Malaysian authorities.
India has deployed six warships and five maritime surveillance aircraft to locate the missing airliner with 239 passengers on board.
