The silent player in the S. China Sea
- By Xu Xin
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 9, 2011
Recently, Vietnam struck a deal with Russia for six of its diesel-electric Kilo/ Project 636 Class fast attack submarines. Both the Su-30MK2 fighters and the Kilo/ Project 636 Class fast attack submarines have superior operational and combat capability. Their operating radius can cover the entire South China Sea.
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Vietnam has now become a major purchaser of Russian arms. In the past, Russia has zealously sold submarines, frigates, helicopters and Su-30MK2 fighters to Vietnamese forces. These advanced weapons will no doubt enhance Vietnam's air and naval forces in the South China Sea region. The greater power projection will give Vietnam more courage to challenge China, thus putting more pressure on China in the South China Sea. As Vietnam asserts more control over the region, there is greater potential for the current disputes to intensify.
In going through with these weapons sales, Russia's purpose is quite clear – to involve itself indirectly in the South China Sea disputes. This is further demonstrated by Russia's willingness to train Vietnamese forces how to use the advanced weaponry.
In addition to arms sales, Russia has also interfered in the dispute by cooperating with Vietnam to conduct offshore oil exploration in the South China Sea. Because of its limited capacity for deep-sea oil exploration, Vietnam has been actively looking for foreign oil companies to cooperate with. Of these, Russian firms are an important partner. In the 1980s, the Soviet Union helped Vietnam develop eight oil fields in South China Sea, turning Vietnam from a net crude oil importer to an exporter. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, cooperation between Russia and Vietnam did not stop. Instead, the two countries have further strengthened their energy cooperation.
Russia knows perfectly well that equipping the Vietnam with powerful submarines will aggravate the already-inflamed South China Sea disputes. However, it continues to sell advanced weapons to Vietnam for its own economic and political benefit. These foreign arms sales have never been simply for economic gain; Russia views the sales as a way to intervene in regional affairs. Likewise, in partnering with Vietnam in oil exploration in the South China Sea, Russia has not only made huge profits, but also gained increased power to check China's economic development.
While Russia has not been directly involved in the South China Sea territorial disputes, with its arms sales and stake in Vietnamese offshore oil exploration, it has shown that can wield considerable influence behind the scenes.
Xu Xin is a university student in Department of History, Xiamen University.
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