(BGF) – The WorldNet Daily reported that China was putting pressure on Russia to remove its commercial presence from the South China Sea, particularly the oil exploration projects it has with Vietnam. Moscow also has military interest in Vietnam, with its submarines contract with Vietnam in the end of 2011.
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China wants Russia out of South China Sea
May 12, 2012
(WorldNet Daily) – Just as it has demanded of the United States, China now is putting pressure on Russia to remove its commercial presence from the South China Sea, particularly the oil exploration projects it has with Vietnam.
Photo: Hanoi’s order of Kilo-class submarines from Russia
Not only is Moscow working with Hanoi on the commercial side, but it is selling submarines that Vietnam believes it needs to stand up to Beijing as its feud continues over offshore mineral rights.
Moscow’s commercial and military interests in Vietnam, however, are part of a larger strategic issue of maintaining its presence in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims is in its area of influence.
China wants all outside interests to leave, including the U.S. For Moscow, however, it not only has its own strategic interest in the area, but any pullout would be considered by Moscow as a loss of face and prestige.
Such a choice, said Dmitriy Mosyakov of the Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania Center at the Russian Sciences Institute of Oriental States, would present “the Kremlin with a choice, the price of which may prove very high.”
In so doing, Mosyakov pointed out, “it will subordinate its national interests in Asia to the interests of China and in that case the bottom line for Russia will be not only a loss of face in Asia, affecting its image, but also a loss of very lucrative oil and gas contracts worth billions of dollars.”
China’s preoccupation with other countries’ access to its area of primary interest could increasingly influence its relations with these countries in other areas of mutual interest.
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