Vietnam seeks to resolve maritime tensions with China in disputed South China Sea

TROUBLE| India keeps a keen eye on trouble in South China Sea

Vietnam has made a whopping 40 representations at all diplomatic levels to China to resolve the maritime tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea but to no avail, even as more than 20 Chinese vessels escorting a survey ship have once again entered these waters for the third time in less than three months in the South China Sea that Vietnam considers its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), diplomatic sources claimed on Monday. The latest entry of Chinese vessels took place on September 5, sources said. China however also lays claim to these waters claimed by Vietnam.

India is understood to be watching the situation closely. New Delhi has been conducting oil exploration activities in cooperation with Hanoi within waters that Vietnam considers to be its own EEZ.

Chinese vessels entered waters that Vietnam considers its own on July 3 and

■ India is understood to be watching the situation closely. New Delhi has been conducting oil exploration activities in cooperation with Hanoi within waters that Vietnam considers to be its own EEZ

August 13 this year, sources said. Diplomatic sources said that the first entry of Chinese vessels on July 3 was "quite close " to the site of Indian oil exploration efforts. But the third foray of Chinese vessels on September 5 apparently got closer to the Vietnamese coast than before, sources said.

China and Vietnam have previously fought a border war four decades ago in 1979.

China is understood to be of the view that the issue can be resolved with Vietnam bilaterally and that efforts are on in this direction. But with no solution in sight, Vietnam is getting increasingly anxious.

It may be recalled that last month, in a clear veiled message to Beijing intended to caution it over recent maritime tensions in the South China Sea between China and Vietnam, India had said it stood for freedom of navigation while cautioning against any use of force.

In a statement last month, the MEA spokesperson had said, "South China Sea is part of the global commons. India, therefore, has an abiding interest in the peace and stability in the region. India firmly stands for the freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce, in the international waters, in accordance with international laws, notably UNCLOS."

The MEA had added, "India also believes that any differences must be resolved peacefully by respecting the legal and diplomatic processes, and without resorting to threat or use of force."

India had also made it clear earlier that there had been no stop in Indian oil exploration activities (in Vietnamese waters) despite reports of maritime tension between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea. The MEA had said India had "significant economic and trade interests" in the area and had a "genuine interests" in "access to major waterways" in that region. India is hoping that both Beijing and Hanoi resolve the issue bilaterally.

Both Vietnam and China are believed to have kept India in the loop about the developments. So far as Indian oil block exploration efforts with Vietnam are concerned, the ONGC-Videsh already has a presence in Vietnam. It had earlier been agreed with Vietnam that more productive oil blocks would be offered to India. A then senior Indian Government official had stated in January last year that India looks forward to such oil blocks being offered. New Delhi’s position then had made it amply clear that India would not allow the reported Chinese objections in this regard to deter it from oil exploration efforts.