India makes waves with South China Sea oil and gas exploration

(Global Times)

09:49, September 18, 2011

India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna began a 3-day visit to Vietnam on Friday as reports claimed that an Indian state-owned oil producer is set to undertake joint exploration of gas resources in the South China Sea with Vietnam, in spite of protests from Beijing. 

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) was reported on Thursday to have cemented a deal with Vietnamese firms to exploit oil and gas in two offshore South China Sea oil blocks with Krishna expected to discuss the issue in Vietnam. 

The Indian External Affairs Ministry also reportedly claimed on Thursday that the project has been approved by Vietnam, which claims sovereignty over the two blocks, according to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Responding to a question concerning these plans, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu responded Thursday that the UN Convention did not give any country the right to expand their own exclusive economic zone and continental shelf into other countries' territories. Jiang also warned countries outside the region to support the resolution of this dispute through bilateral channels. 

"As for oil and gas exploration activities, our consistent position is that we are opposed to any country engaged in oil and gas exploration and development activities in waters under China's jurisdiction. We hope foreign countries do not get involved in the South China Sea dispute," she said, according to Xinhua News Agency.

However, Krishna said on Thursday that China's objection had no legal basis, according to the Hindustan Times.

An Indian Ministry of External Affairs official said that despite China's concerns, the cooperation would proceed based on approval from Vietnamese authorities, the report said. 

The remark came after an Indian Navy vessel was allegedly warned by the Chinese Navy in Chinese Waters in late July. New Delhi later protested the violation of the "freedom of navigation in international waters," including in the South China Sea, Xinhua reported. 

The disputed waters in the South China Sea are also claimed by countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia and contain rich oil reserves, estimated at up to 28 billion barrels.

China and Vietnam agreed in June to address the dispute through negotiations and consultations. At that time, both sides vowed to work together to avoid actions detrimental to bilateral friendship and mutual trust. They also agreed to adopt effective measures to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The joint exploration between India and Vietnam is not accidental since in recent years, India has taken an increasingly eastward-looking stance, according to Wu Xinbo, professor at the Center for American Studies, Fudan University.

"As a South Asian country, India actively takes part in East Asian issues through the support of the US, which has been advocating for Asian countries to counter China. The US takes every opportunity to counter China, and its joint military maneuvers with Japan and other regional countries have been more frequent in recent years," Wu told the Global Times.

Wu added that this project helps India kill two birds with one stone. It will bring economic benefits to India while also balancing out China politically, according to Wu. 

Zhuang Guotu, director of Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University, agrees that India is urgently seeking to develop new resources. "India doesn't produce oil by itself, it will be very convenient if it can tap some directly from the South China Sea."

Shen Dingli, director of the Center for American Studies of Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times that the move is provocation as India is not happy about the rise of China. 

"In recent years, China has also been building up relations with countries like Myanmar that neighbor India, not to mention that Pakistan invited China to provide safety protection, and offered China a naval port on the Indian Ocean. All these moves made India feel nervous," said Shen.

Agencies contributed to this storyMost Popular

• Commentary: Push for China currency bil…
• Chengdu Motor Show 2011 kicks off
• Premier Wen pledges further price regul…
• China's religious community disputes U.…
• At least 3 killed, 50 injured in plane …
• China's top legislator calls for cooper…
• China, Russia eye stronger parliamentar…
• 2011 Summer Davos Forum closes in north…
• Senior Chinese leader stresses innovati…
• Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week kicks off

Opinions

1. Sincere, practical co-op between China, Africa
2. Why does US block Palestine's bid for entering UN
3. Egypt-Israel crisis likely to ripple through Middle East
4. Debating luxury duties: Up, down or scrapped
5. China's investments boost US economic recovery
6. Woman cuts watershed for China’s charities
7. Food safety supervision overwhelms food crime
8. China's actions in Libya show diplomatic maturity
9. Living in Beijing more expensive than New York?
10. Middle East turbulence not over yet

What's happening in China

'Enemy of the state' finds no charity

1. China Telecom to sell iPhone 5
2. City builds shelter for emergencies
3. Home prices, inflation irk most Chinese
4. Guangdong refuse to treat HIV burn victim
5. Parking fee collector run over, killed

PD Online Data

1. The Yi ethnic minority
2. The Salar ethnic minority
3. The Tu ethnic minority
4. The Pumi ethnic minority
5. The Naxi ethnic minority

【1】 【2】 

 

Email|Print|Comments（Editor：梁军）

Increases the bookmark

• twitter
• facebook
• Sina Microblog
• digg
• Google
• Delicious
• buzz
• friendfeed
• Linkedin
• diigo
• reddit
• stumbleupon
• Qzone
• QQ Microblog

Related Reading

1. China, Vietnam work to resolve sea disputes
2. China, Vietnam reach consensus to properly handle South China Sea dispute
3. PLA's operation in S. China routine drill: Defense Ministry
4. Chinese oil companies deny Philippine exploration bids
5. Matching words with deeds
6. 'Start with cooperation to boost mutual trust'
7. Why does speculation grow in South China Sea
8. Fishing vessels start operations after South China Sea fishing ban lifted
9. Fishing ban in South China Sea to end on Aug. 1
10. Let calm, peace return to South China Sea (2)

Leave your comment7 comments

1. Name
2. 
   

Dr.madhav waze at 2011-09-18117.204.143.*

First of all china should allow india to breathe freely, it should not encicle india by already started activities in lanka, Nepal , pakistan , myanmar which are neighbouring countries to india.Then it has got right to ask india to stop commercial activities in south chinese seas.

Ny at 2011-09-1876.69.63.*

Many nations take advantage of China because she suffers from inferiority complex and also because she has feet of clay.

DR R C CHATURVEDI at 2011-09-18117.204.229.*

1.MAY I KNOW WHAT CHINA IS DOING IN "POK" WHICH IS COMPLITLY DISPUTED ARICA.2.IF CHINA IS GONG AFRICA, MYANMAR,SRI LANKA...AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.WHY IT HAS PROBLEM WITH SAME KIND OF APROCH OF OTHER COUNTRIES..3.CHINA SHOULD REALISE THAT IT CAN NOT GROW ALONE.GROW ALONGWITH....4.CHINA IS COMPLETLY COOPERATING WITH PAKISTAN WHICH IS INDIAS ENMY NO. 1 3 WARS BETWEEN THEM.5.CHINA SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTOOD INDIAS POINT OF VIEW ALSO..

helen at 2011-09-18175.136.86.*

That Washington Witch at the US State Department had done a good job in instigating India against China. But then again, it is easier to win over the Indian government and their elites if you are a "White" since they have not gotten over the 200+ years of British "White" colonialism.China must continue its modernisation of the PLA, if anything should expedite it, especially its 2nd Artilliery Force (SAF) to deal with US Global Tyranny.Strong power protects peace!

Sam Teng at 2011-09-18175.139.83.*

India appears to be blinded by the economic gains in the oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea areas. It is fully aware that the disputed waters in South China Sea are claimed by several countries and not by Vietnam or China alone. By colluding with Vietnam to push ahead on the joint oil and gas exploration in the disputed areas, India has made a grave mistake by offending all the claimants to the disputed areas. India should not interfere or get involved in disputed areas unless they have some ulterior motives.

Weekly review

1. China issues white paper on peaceful development
2. New western colonialism emerges in Libya
3. Opinion: China's economy has landed, safely
4. 9/11 marked turning point in world landscape
5. Beijing orders thorough probe into oil spills
6. Why were we too slow responding to Bohai oil spill?
7. No date for fully convertible yuan
8. The week in pictures