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India, Vietnam bat for free navigation in South China Sea

Last Updated 15 September 2014, 20:24 IST

India and Vietnam minced no words in calling for “freedom of navigation” in the East Sea or South China Sea, sending a signal to China to exercise restraint, not to use threat or force but resolve disputes through peaceful means as per international law.

At the end of talks between President Pranab Mukherjee and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang on Monday, the two countries issued a joint communique that was clear on their resolve in this regard.

There was little doubt that the joint document was alluding to Vietnam’s big neighbour China, whose muscle-flexing over territorial claims had caused consternation in the region recently.

The event took place in the backdrop of Chinese president Xi Jingping’s visit to India from September 17. New Delhi also pledged a $100-million line of credit to Vietnam for procuring defence items like naval patrol vessels from it, which was described as part of an important “pillar of strength” of their strategic partnership.

India shares Vietnam’s concern that China claims almost 90 per cent of the East Sea. In May, China asserted its claims by sending its mobile oil rig to Vietnam waters for alleged oil exploration despite Vietnamese protests.
Later, China announced that it would build lighthouses on five islands in the South China Sea, of which two islands are in waters claimed by Vietnam.

India and Vietnam said on Monday they would work towards the adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea on the consensus for ensuring security of sea lanes, besides maritime security, and combating piracy.

“Mukherjee conveyed to his Vietnamese counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s word that the new government is keen that India’s ties with Hanoi are deepened,” said Anil Wadhwa, secretary (east) in the Ministry of External Affairs. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dang will visit Delhi next month to discuss several issues with Modi.

Significantly, the two countries signed an agreement that provided for a Letter of Intent between Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), providing for additional two blocks for OVL in the South China Sea for exploration. The OVL has also invited Petro Vietnam to invest in exploration off the Indian coast.

The six other agreements signed on Monday were not about containing China’s influence in the region but about capacity building in the Communist country that is now tuned to market economy, and take advantage of mutual economic strengths and requirements.These pacts included one on skill development of the youth and setting a target of $15 billion for their diversified bilateral trade by 2020.

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(Published 15 September 2014, 20:21 IST)

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