South China Sea on Agenda as Indian PM Modi Visits Vietnam

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Vietnam during which the South China Sea issue will be one of the important topics of discussion.

Narendra Modi’s Vietnam visit just ahead of the G20 Summit in the Chinese city of Huangzhou has created ripples in the international fora.

PM @narendramodi emplanes for his bilateral visit to Vietnam & G20 Summit in China. pic.twitter.com/BpvQvXN98r

— PIB India (@PIB_India) 2 сентября 2016 г.

Modi will meet Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and will hold talks on defense and security cooperation, bilateral trade and most importantly oil exploration.

Modi’s Vietnam visit just ahead of the G20 Summit in China is significant as India will continue to keep its engagement with Vietnam on the South China Sea issue despite opposition from China.

During his discussions with the Vietnamese President and Prime Minister, Modi is likely to discuss the issue of the South China Sea. The Indian stance is that China should follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and has continuously advocated that there should be freedom of navigation in international waters.

Defense and security are other important topics on the agenda between the two countries. India will soon provide four patrol boats to Vietnam for surveillance in the South China Sea. Apart from that Vietnam has also shown keen interest in acquiring BrahMos missile and India is likely to supply these missiles soon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vietnam visit will definitely bring China on the toes as the Chinese government is wary of any discussion related to the South China Sea issue.