Both Countries Have Announced Oil Exploration Plans In Other’s Waters New Delhi: The oceans are the new theatre of India-China competition, but one with possible security implications. Soon after India announced its decision to go ahead with oil exploration in South China Sea with Vietnam, China on Saturday said it would expand its exploration of 10,000 sq km of seabed in southwest Indian Ocean. This was announced as part of its 2011-2015 oceanic development policy. Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, quoted China’s head of oceanic development Liu Cigui as saying, “We will expand the depths and scope of oceanic research and improve our understanding of the ocean, with special focuses on the polar regions and deep sea environments.” Liu, head of the State Oceanic Administration, made the comments at a meeting on oceanic technology in Beijing. The Chinese intent would have security implications. India’s Naval Hydrography Department has done extensive work, mapping the bottom of the Indian Ocean. Sources said Indian hydrographers have perhaps the best knowledge of the bottom of the ocean — which would not only help mariners, but are invaluable for India’s defence and strategic planning. On July 11, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) allowed exploration for polymetallic sulphides by China Ocean Minerals Resources Research and Development Association. The development sent shockwaves across the Indian government. The thing is, India could have done a number of such activities. India has received exploratory rights by the ISA for a large number of blocks. But inaction has meant that many of these blocks have been given up to ISA. India retains a number of blocks in the Indian Ocean, but can’t object to China obtaining mining rights in the Ocean, as India has itself neglected its concessions. Obviously, keeping in mind China’s moves into the Indian Ocean, the government last month released its surveys of the sea-bed on Indian waters. The surveys by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) shows the presence of heavy deposits of ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, monazite and garnet off the east coast, as well as off Kerala and TN. The GSI has also conducted reconnaissance surveys to identify potential areas for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion off Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Meanwhile, China is getting ready to square off with India in the South China Sea. In an opinion piece in Xinhua, China asked India to wise up and “refrain” from moves in the South China Sea, where China retains “absolute sovereignty”. “For countries outside the region, we hope they will respect and support countries in the region to solve this dispute through bilateral channels,” the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, responding to a question concerning ONGC’s plans to explore in two offshore oil blocks in South China Sea. As India plans to explore South China sea, China is eyeing Indian Ocean