Arming the Rival's Enemy: Why Modi’s Visit to Vietnam Might Irk China

[Feroz Alam Khan]

Modi’s visit to Vietnam will be the first bilateral visit to the country by an Indian Prime Minister since 2001.

© AP PHOTO/ KEVIN HAGEN
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New Delhi (Sputnik) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam, the first by an Indian head of government in the last 15 years, is being seen as India's attempt to counter China's influence in South East Asia. In contrast to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to the country in 2001, this visit will primarily focus on defense export and maritime partnership, sources said.


It is expected that India will offer a range of military equipment to Vietnam including the BrahMos missile and Varunastra anti-submarine torpedo. Vietnam had earlier expressed interest in the naval version of the BrahMos. While, India expects to open the window for the sale of the first homegrown heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra. India had earlier announced a credit line of USD100 million during President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Vietnam for procurement of off-shore patrol boats.

Experts see this visit as a counterstroke to China's policy of arming India's rival Pakistan for decades. Bharat Karnad, former member of India's National Security Council and security analyst, told Sputnik, "India should not only equip Vietnam with the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile but also transfer to Hanoi the 700 km Agni-1 medium-range ballistic missile; but suitably disguised as falling within the MTCR-mandated 300 km range restrictions. China has already done its worst. It is time for India to reciprocate amply in equal measure."

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The roadmap for the upcoming high level visit was prepared by both countries during 8th Foreign Office Consultations and Strategic Dialogue meeting held in New Delhi on August 2, 2016. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, "At the 8th Foreign Office Consultations meeting the two sides held deliberations on an entire gamut of bilateral relations, including the forthcoming high level visits. During the Strategic Dialogue meeting, both sides discussed ruling of United Nations' tribunal ruling on South China Sea."


Karnad says, "The tragedy is that the Indian government has taken so long to realize the strategic value of responding to China in kind as a tit-for-tat measure against its nuclear missile arming Pakistan. I have long argued that if India lacks the stomach for a fight with China, as seems to be the case, then India's national interest is best served by arming to the hilt Vietnam, the only country that despite comprehensive disparity with China, has repeatedly shown the guts and the gumption to take on the Chinese military."

Meawnwhile, India's space agency ISRO is already working towards the establishment of a Satellite Tracking & Data Reception Station and Data Processing Facility in Vietnam for ASEAN member countries. This station will cover the entire region of ASEAN including the South China Sea. During Modi's visit, it is also expected that both countries will agree to upgrade all the military equipment like the T-54, T-55 and helicopters.

 

[Nilgiri]

15 year gap is too long....glad we are setting it straight now. There should be a visit to Vietnam by our PM at least once a term if not more.

@Viet @Carlosa

 

[Feroz Alam Khan]

15 year gap is too long....glad we are setting it straight now. There should be a visit to Vietnam by our PM at least once a term if not more.

@Viet @Carlosa

In fact there ought to be some bilateral joint government bodies as in case of Russia (IRIGC ) , US and other to meet on regular basis , review and upgrade relationships.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

what can really India make to ink China, they brag about selling Brahmos since dawn age and what is the big deal about that, I'm wondering why Vietnam interested to buy this Brahmos from India when themselves are depend from Russia for engine, there is plenty of high tech supplier such Israel, why they want to buy obsolete weapon from India unless India give away for free or at the very discount rate

This is nothing but to grab China's attention...what a sensational new...LMAO

 

[艹艹艹]

 

[faithfulguy]

India always talk about selling weapons when they are short of weapons themselves. But I guess is the world famous Brahmos. How many Brahmos are on Russian ships since it's the most advanced anti ship missile in the world.

 

[Indika]

This is nothing but to grab China's attention...what a sensational new...LMAO

Given that you have started rolling on the ground, seems we certainly have got the attention.
Vietnam need not buy any military goods, but a simple listening station/post is good enuf to piss of china.
Guess who was trying to talk to India about SCS?

Instead having a brain fart why dont you go & read your own propaganda on who is begging attention.

India should focus on preserving good economic ties with China, rather than on the S.China Sea
By Hu Weijia Source:Global Times Published: 2016/8/8 23:58:48

India should move its focus from geopolitical competition to economic issues, such as how to stop a further decline in exports to China. Under normal circumstances, defusing the tensions between the two counties will help lay a sound foundation for fostering closer economic ties. In this regard, Wang Yi's trip will offer concrete opportunities for India.

India may want to avoid unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate during Wang's visit if the country wishes to create a good atmosphere for economic cooperation, which would include reducing tariffs on made-in-India products exported to China amid the ongoing free trade talk known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. India is expected to allow only moderate tariff reduction on made-in-China products under the talks in a bid to preserve its domestic industries. If India wants China to be more generous in terms of tariff reduction, it would be unwise for the country to let its relationship with China deteriorate further at this moment.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Given that you have started rolling on the ground, seems we certainly have got the attention.
Vietnam need not buy any military goods, but a simple listening station/post is good enuf to piss of china.
Guess who was trying to talk to India about SCS?

Instead having a brain fart why dont you go & read your own propaganda on who is begging attention.

India should focus on preserving good economic ties with China, rather than on the S.China Sea
By Hu Weijia Source:Global Times Published: 2016/8/8 23:58:48

India should move its focus from geopolitical competition to economic issues, such as how to stop a further decline in exports to China. Under normal circumstances, defusing the tensions between the two counties will help lay a sound foundation for fostering closer economic ties. In this regard, Wang Yi's trip will offer concrete opportunities for India.

India may want to avoid unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate during Wang's visit if the country wishes to create a good atmosphere for economic cooperation, which would include reducing tariffs on made-in-India products exported to China amid the ongoing free trade talk known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. India is expected to allow only moderate tariff reduction on made-in-China products under the talks in a bid to preserve its domestic industries. If India wants China to be more generous in terms of tariff reduction, it would be unwise for the country to let its relationship with China deteriorate further at this moment.

Are you serious? I bet you Indians wouldn't like to hear if our officials talk like the way I'm talking to Indian here, of course they have to say a nice sugar words to please India...LMAO, that was the diplomatic language and protocol, you need an 101 lesson for that?.

And sound like you Indians gather a lot of intelligent about China from SCS station, I hope you guys didn't gather only useless brain fart from us.

 

[Mitro]

Lol

 

[Indika]

Are you serious? I bet you Indians wouldn't like to hear if our officials talk like the way I'm talking to Indian here, of course they have to say a nice sugar words to please India...LMAO, that was the diplomatic language and protocol, you need an 101 lesson for that?.

And sound like you Indians gather a lot of intelligent about China from SCS station, I hope you guys didn't gather only useless brain fart from us.

So begging is your diplomatic language,after threats fail. If china has guts do stop India from prospecting for oil in SCS.
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/PZ...sions-will-not-deter-offshore-pursuits-O.html

New Delhi: The South China Sea may be troubled, but India’s overseas energy explorer that operates in its waters is not perturbed.

ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) which has two offshore blocks in South China Sea allotted by Vietnam does not perceive any threat to production, an OVL director said on condition of anonymity.


Sovereignty over parts of South China Sea is claimed by many countries in the region, to which India is not a party, according to a Rajya Sabha statement by minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh on 4 December 2014.

“There is no question of big tankers coming in and going out of the two blocks which we have been holding for a long time. Secondly, the tribunal’s verdict says that China is in violation of international law. If there is any flare-up in the region, the international community will view it seriously,” the OVL director quoted above said.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

So begging is your diplomatic language,after threats fail. If china has guts do stop India from prospecting for oil in SCS.
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/PZ...sions-will-not-deter-offshore-pursuits-O.html

New Delhi: The South China Sea may be troubled, but India’s overseas energy explorer that operates in its waters is not perturbed.

ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) which has two offshore blocks in South China Sea allotted by Vietnam does not perceive any threat to production, an OVL director said on condition of anonymity.


Sovereignty over parts of South China Sea is claimed by many countries in the region, to which India is not a party, according to a Rajya Sabha statement by minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh on 4 December 2014.

“There is no question of big tankers coming in and going out of the two blocks which we have been holding for a long time. Secondly, the tribunal’s verdict says that China is in violation of international law. If there is any flare-up in the region, the international community will view it seriously,” the OVL director quoted above said.

Oh no....India dare China again , just wait for few weeks and India will back down automatically

 

[Indika]

Oh no....India dare China again , just wait for few weeks and India will back down automatically

any thing else?

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

any thing else?

What you want me to say more?

 

[Indika]

What you want me to say more?

are you done with?

 

[SBUS-CXK]

15 year gap is too long....glad we are setting it straight now. There should be a visit to Vietnam by our PM at least once a term if not more.

@Viet @Carlosa

Are you sure the gap is 15 years?

So begging is your diplomatic language,after threats fail. If china has guts do stop India from prospecting for oil in SCS.
http://www.livemint.com/Industry/PZ...sions-will-not-deter-offshore-pursuits-O.html

New Delhi: The South China Sea may be troubled, but India’s overseas energy explorer that operates in its waters is not perturbed.

ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) which has two offshore blocks in South China Sea allotted by Vietnam does not perceive any threat to production, an OVL director said on condition of anonymity.


Sovereignty over parts of South China Sea is claimed by many countries in the region, to which India is not a party, according to a Rajya Sabha statement by minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh on 4 December 2014.

“There is no question of big tankers coming in and going out of the two blocks which we have been holding for a long time. Secondly, the tribunal’s verdict says that China is in violation of international law. If there is any flare-up in the region, the international community will view it seriously,” the OVL director quoted above said.

India's oil RIGS? Or spend billions from around the world to buy it?