China 's coercive and brinkmanship behaviour in the drilling rigincident in Vietnam ’s waters is provocative and irresponsible, anIndian scholar has affirmed.

Dr. Subhash Kapila,senior fellow at South Asia Analysis Group (SAAG), made the remark onMay 9 while answering Vietnam News Agency correspondent in New Delhion the case that China has positioned an oil rig together with manyescort vessels deep into Vietnam ’s continental shelf, violating thecountry’s sovereignty.

“It is unbecoming of an AsianPower professing to be a 'responsible stakeholder' in Asian securityand stability,” he said. “It should also be an eye-opener for theUnited States which continues to perceive that China can be broughtaround to act responsibly in terms of Asian security and stability”.

It is also a wake-up call for AEAN to come alive andunited to cope with the 'China Threat' which is likely to engulf thewhole of Southeast Asia , the scholar added.

He stated thataggression, political and military coercion and brinkmanship by Chinaagainst its neighbours on issues which can be resolved by dialogue ishighly condemnable and needs to be condemned by the internationalcommunity.

According to Dr. Kapila,maritime security and stability of Vietnam ’s waters can best becatered by Vietnam itself by 'fast track' expansion of its naval andmaritime capabilities.

“ Vietnam has to expandits naval forces and bring them to a level which could impose minimumdeterrence against Chinese intrusiveness in its waters,” he advised.

Bringing peace and stability to the East Sea region needs a jointeffort of ASEAN as a regional community along with the US and theAsia Pacific community.

“What is now required is that Vietnamprevails over ASEAN to highlight in regional and international forumsthat China's record in the East Sea is now acquiring menacing contoursand is a grave threat to Southeast Asia’s security and stability,” hestressed.

The same day,India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee President Geetesh Sharma said theexpansionist and hegemonic policy of the Chinese Government is not ahidden agenda. China has demonstrated it time and again to bully theneighboring countries by intrusion into their sovereignty and the latestexample is Vietnam .

”We appeal to the Government of Chinato exercise restraint and come to negotiation table abiding by theinternational law and precedence,” he said, adding peace in the Asianregion is in peril and so all peace-loving forces should be united, comeforward and condemn unequivocally such acts of intrusion.

The Government and non-governmental organisations in Vietnam shouldutilise all the available platforms to apprise the global community ofthe situation and ensure that the peace in the region is not disturbedand that justice is done to Vietnam, he said./.