“China appears to be closely monitoring the development of India-Vietnam relations, particularly in the areas of defense, maritime affairs, and strategic technology. While China likely does not view this development as a direct threat to its national security, its real concern lies in the increasingly clear convergence of strategic interests between the two countries in areas where China holds important interests, such as the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, and a post-U.S. security architecture in Asia.”
“Currently, India-Vietnam defense relations are no longer solely centered around friendly diplomatic statements. The two sides are expanding cooperation in areas of deeper strategic significance, such as submarine training, fighter pilot training, defense industry cooperation, sharing maritime situational awareness, and defense credit support. In particular, Vietnam’s access to the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is becoming a symbol of the increasing strategic trust between Hanoi and New Delhi.”
“The oil and gas activities of ONGC Videsh in Vietnamese waters have repeatedly drawn objections from China, which argues that these projects are located in a ‘disputed’ area. However, India has maintained its presence despite diplomatic pressure from China. This sends an important signal: India no longer sees itself merely as a South Asian or Indian Ocean power, but is viewing the South China Sea as part of its expanding strategic interests. This is increasingly concretized through India’s ‘Act East’ strategy, which New Delhi has been focusing on strengthening since 2014. And Vietnam is the most important gateway for that expansion…”
https://thediplomat.com/2026/05/why-is-china-watching-india-vietnam-relations-carefully/