INDIA, CHINA AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

WRONG DRILL?

Virendra Sahai Verma

The Times of India, September 25, 2011

Last week, one day after a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said his government was "opposed to any country engaging in oil exploration in waters under China's jurisdiction" , an editorial in 'Global Times' , a mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, warned India of "serious political provocation" that would "push China to the limit". The "provocation" , it seems, is ONGC Videsh Ltd's reported plans of exploring two offshore oil blocks that Vietnam claims to be in its Exclusive Economic Zone in the South China Sea. Tension has been building for some time. On July 22, an Indian vessel, INS Airavat, was contacted on open radio channel by a caller identifying himself as the "Chinese navy" and told "You are entering Chinese waters" when it was sailing from Vietnamese port Nha Trang towards Hai Phong.

The Indian government not only confirmed that the Indian ship was on a friendly visit to Vietnam, the ministry of external affairs also asserted that "India supports freedom of navigation in international waters, including in South China Sea, and the right of passage in accordance with accepted principles of international law. These principles should be respected by all."

But the ground reality is more complex. South China Sea encompasses 3,500,000 km from Malacca Straits to Strait of Taiwan. The sea is rich in fish and believed to hold over 50 billion tons of crude oil and more than 20 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. The state-owned Chinese firm China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is scheduled to spend US$ 30 billion in oil drilling in the sea during the 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2016). Its strategic location links Indian Ocean with Pacific Ocean - a vital sea artery of world trade. The semi-closed sea is integral to China's nuclear strategy. China also wants to dominate these waters to protect its underwater nuclear submarine base on Hainan Island.

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