Vietnam briefs India over situation in South China Sea

Vietnam has briefed India about escalating tension in South China Sea in wake of China significantly ramping up its military presence by deploying a large number of ships and fighter jets in resource-rich region twithstanding calls for restraint by several countries.

issue figured during Vietnamese ambassor Pham Sanh Chau's meeting with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday, people familiar with development said.

y said Vietnamese envoy gave an account of current situation in South China Sea including around Vietnamese waters where India's ONGC has oil exploration projects.

China's aggressive military assertion in South China Sea came at a time it is engd in an over three-month-long border row with India in eastern Lakh.

details of meeting were me available eir by Ministry of External Affairs or by Vietnam embassy.

"Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla met Amb @SanhChauPham of Vietnam, with whom India has strong ties and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava tweeted after meeting.

China claims sovereignty over all of South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons. However, several ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei, have counter claims.

An attempt by China in 2014 to drill oil in Paracel islands, claimed by Vietnam, h led to anti-China riots in Vietnam in which several Chinese factories were vandalised.

India has been supporting freedom of navigation and access to resources in South China Sea in accordance with principles of international law, including 1982 UN Convention on Law of Sea.

South China Sea is important as 55 per cent of India's tre passes through it.

China has been objecting to India's oil exploration projects in Vietnamese waters in South China Sea. However, India has rejected objection saying its energy cooperation with Vietnam was as per international laws.

In last two months, China has increased its military assertiveness in South China Sea when entire world is battling coronavirus pandemic.

Following Chinese actions, US sent military ships near disputed islands, and called Beijing's claim over region illegal.

" world will t allow Beijing to treat South China Sea as its maritime empire. America stands with our Souast Asian allies and partners in protecting ir sovereign rights to offshore resources," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month.

defence and military ties between India and Vietnam have been on an upswing in last few years.

After a dece of being strategic partners, India and Vietnam formally upgred ir relationship status to "comprehensive strategic partnership" in 2016.

Defence and tre are important components of comprehensive strategic partnership between two nations.