Vietnam has clearly different perceptions of a new India under Narendra Modi. It's Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung flew down to India to specifically ask India for its support against an increasingly belligerent China.
"As one of the powerful countries in the world and especially in Asia, we seek the assistance of India to resolve our disputes with China," said the Prime Minister.
And Modi did not disappoint! India committed to the modernization of Vietnam’s ‘defence and security forces.’
It will also supply naval vessels to Vietnam on a credit of $100 million. India also indicated its willingness to sell the Brahmos short range missiles to Vietnam.
The Brahmos can prove to be a deadly weapon in the arsenal of Vietnam which borders China. But the most important of all, is that India has agreed to share ‘civil nuclear co-operation’ with Vietnam.
Understandably, Vietnam is thrilled and China is furious. There are huge reserves of oil and gas in the ‘South China Sea’ and even Vietnam and Japan have a claim over those areas.
However, China has claimed the entire ‘South China Sea’ as its own and warned India not to meedle in its affairs with Vietnam.
Recently, an Indian tanker was sent back by the Chinese in the South China Sea in an area which actually comes under the jurisdiction of Vietnam.
The Prime Minister of Vietnam has now clarified that as a valuable ally and friend, India is welcome to explore the area and bid for reserves.
China has unhesitatingly expressed its displeasure and warned India. Yet, Modi has gone forward and signed the treaties with first Japan and now Vietnam.
In doing so, he has clearly refused to buck into the bullying tactics of China. But more importantly, he has sent a strong signal to China that India will not take things lying down anymore.
As of now, India might not be a match to China in terms of military power. But a combined strength of Japan, India and Vietnam is a completely different ballgame. Both Vietnam and Japan have earlier decisively defeated the Chinese in war.
Vietnam in fact handed the US, its first ever military defeat. This tough stance by India has made the international community look at India with new respect.
