AS Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister of India, China is pushing its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Beijing’s moves can have serious implications for the security of India. Almost 4000 Chinese expatriates are preparing to get airlifted from Vietnam. Vietnam is against China planting an oil rig in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the disputed South China Sea. China has sent a number of civil and military vessels to protect the oil rig. Two of China’s biggest amphibian landing ships and a missile frigate are guarding the $ 1 billion mobile rig. Beijing has said that it intends to continue its operations with the oil rig despite Vietnam’s opposition. It is supporting the use of non-peaceful measures against Vietnam and the Philippines.
India has commercial interests in the South China Sea off Vietnam. It can become an interested party if the tension in the region is aggravated. It is evident that China has no intention of refraining from pushing its territorial claims in South East Asia. The ASEAN is not united enough and still not capable of coping with Chinese expansionism. The US is preoccupied in Eastern Europe and West Asia. India has made a considerable amount of investment in Vietnam and is trying to make it a strategic ally. Delhi would not like to see Vietnam pushed backward by China. India’s Look East Policy under Manmohan Singh could not make much headway. On the border issue also, Narendra Modi showed a tough attitude to China during the election campaign. It is to be seen how his new government deals with the developing situation in South East Asia.
