"Act east Policy", India should focus on transfer of technology (Brahmos Missile): Vietnam

It can be said that while Vietnam appreciates the Indian offers as Modi's 'Act East Policy’, Four Years After there is no rush to sell the BrahMos Missile and other weaponry systems to Vietnam.

Missile systems technology transfer to Vietnam as a move towards 'Act East Policy'

When Prime Minister Modi first offered the Indian defense credit line to Vietnam several years ago, there was a lot of speculation that it would be used on acquiring the Brahmos missile. They were ultimately used on new patrol boats for the Vietnam Border Guard.

The Indian government appears unwilling to further upset or rile the Chinese Dragon by making any untoward flanking moves towards Beijing’s adversaries. The late defense minister Manohar Parrikar held extensive consultations with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Ngo Xuan Lich, in Hanoi in June 2016 on transferring BrahMos to its long-standing ally in south-east Asia. These talks included the option of stationing a team of Indian technicians in Hanoi to provide the Vietnamese military instruction on the BrahMos whose transfer, official sources at the time in New Delhi four years ago maintained was imminent.

Air launched version of Brahmos Missile

Although talks for the Brahmos and other weapons such as the Akash hasn’t finalized, Vietnam's missile capabilities are still decent enough - the Vietnam People's Navy already has two batteries of K-300 Bastion-P with Yakhont missiles but with lack of new tech. As for other equipment the government has been looking to purchase from other sources while continuing to strengthen Vietnam's own defense industry.

On the other hand, the recent banning of 59 Chinese smartphone apps by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government is, at best, a feeble riposte to Beijing’s continuing military adventurism along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). Senior military analysts in New Delhi said a more ‘robust’ response to the standoff between the Indian Army and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in eastern Ladakh since in May. It could involve fast-tracking the long-promised transfer of indigenous BrahMos and Akash missile systems to Vietnam to safe-guard its borders with China and also to stand affirm with its ally (India).

Akash Missile defence system. Pic source: Indian Army

The Vietnamese counterpart said that ,”As part of his ‘Look East’ policy. It is believed to have discussed the ‘possibility’ of transferring ‘Prithvi missile along with BrahMos and Akash Missile systems’ to Vietnam, not only to further long-standing bilateral ties, but also as a counter to China that continued supplying assorted missile systems to its strategic, military and nuclear ally Pakistan for employment against India.

As for India, things should change. New Delhi should start its missile and military co-operation with Hanoi under the even greater stranglehold. The narrative is simple: If China can effectively use Pakistan as its surrogate to strategically immobilise India. What resist New Delhi to do the same with its ally (Hanoi) whose sovereignty has always suppressed by Beijing?