ONGC to restart oil exploration in the disputed waters

India is playing its South China Sea card (SCS) by restarting oil exploration off Vietnam coast at the invitation of Hanoi.
China has lodged official protests against it clamming whole of the SCS as its own which is disputed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
An article in Global Times said that India is playing the card of the South China Sea issue so that Beijing makes compromises on the border disputes or on Pakistan-related issues.
India states that the ONGC move is a commercial operation.
It stated that India’s maritime strategy currently focuses on Influencing ‘Indo-Pacific’ by preparing for the upcoming Exercise Malabar.
Exercise Malabar is a joint naval drill involving the US, Japan and India, in the Indian Ocean in this October.
China is also enhancing its relationship with countries within the region, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
In recent news it is stated that Pakistan is going to buy eight submarines from China and India fears that this will disturb the balance in the Indian Ocean

Source: Defence News