South China Sea dispute high on agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Vietnam talks?

NEW DELHI: In indirectly saying today that China needs to respect the Hague tribunal's verdict on the South China Sea , India's ambassador to Vietnam gave a strong indication of what's high on the agenda of the talks the two countries' premiers will have later on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to reach Vietnam on Friday on a state visit.

"We believe that UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) represents the foundational aspect of international law on seas and oceans, and we call on all parties to respect UNCLOS,"said P Harish, India's ambassador to Vietnam, according to ANI.

"We have constantly advocated that freedom of passage in international water(s) is important for trade," he added.

It was a none-too-subtle reference to a recalcitrant Beijing, which has refused to accept the Hague tribunal's verdict. The tribunal ruled in July that China has no claim to economic rights across large swathes of the South China Sea.

"Defence and security is an important pillar of our (India-Vietnam) strategic partnership," Harish added, further indicating the areas the two countries will hold talks on.

The PM's Vietnam visit, where energy, defence and a strategic partnership will get top billing, will be closely watched by Beijing. India is expected to give four patrol boats to Vietnam, a transfer holding significance in the context of Vietnam's claims against China in the South China Sea.

India has a couple of oil exploration blocks given by Vietnam which fall within the 9-dash-line. MEA secretary Preeti Saran told TOI that India would get additional blocks from Vietnam.

China wants India to refrain from undertaking oil exploration in the Vietnamese blocks in order to ensure "peace and stability" in the South China Sea. The issue too is likely to be discussed in depth with Vietnam.

Incidentally, China has called the countries involved in the dispute - Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia- "eunuch" and "paper tiger" and termed The Hague's tribunal "illegal and ridiculous.


(With inputs from ANI)
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