India is assessing whether to explore oil in five blocks in the South China sea, on the invitation of Vietnam, a crucial and strategically located south east Asian friend, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is on a three-day visit to Vietnam starting today.
China lays claim to most of the South China Sea, but MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Vietnam says these five blocks are in its waters. Hanoi made the offer for exploration to New Delhi in November last year and the latter is assessing data.
Sources said India believes some of these oil wells could be extremely productive and is inclined to take up exploration, though no agreement has been signed yet.
Vietnam is fighting China over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea, which is rich in resources, fishing potential and an extremely busy sea with constant commercial traffic. It looks upon India as a friend and a supporter on disputes with China.
Ms Swaraj's visit is expected to focus on economic and defence ties. In September President Pranab Mukherjee will visit Vietnam and NDTV has learnt that during this visit he will officially extend a 100-million-dollar line of credit in the defence sector.
With that credit Vietnam can buy two or three petrol vessels, though the country has a much longer wishlist. It wants surveillance equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles, tanks, ships and the Brahmos, a cruise missile.
Defence experts believe the 100-million-dollar credit is small, but is a foot in the door and big message to China which is expected to be upset over it. China considers south east Asia to be its area of influence.
India May Explore Oil in South China Sea
If without Vietnam, India will not do explore oil without permission from China. Only invitation from minnow countries to encourage India.
Even if they are minnow countries they are a sovereign nation with legitimate right in SCS.Support and invitation from that nation is what we want because we cant stay there without that region support since we are not an SCS nation.
While the two friendly countries have long-term strategic relationship, it is unlikely that either will attack India at the other's behest. It did not happen in 1962, and it did not happen in 1971.
Our strategic relations are beyond anything that India can manage with any of its partners. By looking for anti-China allies, India would be making a mistake. Indeed Pakistan is a good bet for China in this scenario.
But however it maybe, it is not right to recall memories of Timur. My hometown of Lahore was looted by his hordes. Pakistanis have a shared history with Indians and by invoking Timur you are being a little insensitive to us as well.
There is no point of mistake here.We dont move our cards till we dont get the maximum profit from it.If this proposal
is more than enough for national interest then there is no doubt about an oil well for OVL in SCS.


