Why did India gift missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam?

India has gifted an active warship to Vietnam, marking the first instance of such a gesture from India to any nation. Departing from India's east coast, the domestically-constructed missile corvette INS Kirpan set sail on Wednesday (June 28), as announced by the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy said in a statement the transfer of the Kirpan "reflects India's commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability".

"This is the maiden occasion of gifting a fully-operational corvette by India to any Friendly Foreign Country," Indian Navy said.

In continuation of @DefenceMinIndia announcement on #19Jun 23 of gifting of an indigenously built in-service Missile Corvette #INSKirpan to Vietnam, Kirpan has cast-off today from #Visakhapatnam & departed on her final journey under Indian Tricolour to #Vietnam.@IN_HQENC pic.twitter.com/dZ2630Zkww

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 28, 2023

Why?

China has persistently asserted sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea, leading to sensitivity concerning the presence of foreign militaries in the region. Therefore, India's decision to gift the Kirpan corvette to Vietnam carries substantial geopolitical implications.

The Indian Navy said that this transfer exemplifies India's dedication to aiding like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability.

In recent years, India and Vietnam have been reinforcing their bilateral ties, with a particular focus on defense collaboration. Both nations harbor concerns regarding the growing assertiveness of China.

A significant first

While India has previously provided smaller vessels and military equipment to countries like Maldives, Mauritius, and even a submarine to Myanmar, the gifting of a corvette to Vietnam holds immense significance, reported Reuters.

This act marks the first instance of India gifting a warship to a Chinese neighbor with a coastline on the South China Sea, an area rife with overlapping territorial claims among several countries.

INS Kirpan: A symbol India's naval prowess

INS Kirpan is the third indigenously built Khukri class missile corvette, currently in active service in the Indian Navy.

During the visit of Vietnam's Defense Minister, Gen Phan Van Giang, to India earlier this month, the gift of the warship was officially announced. Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1991, the Kirpan showcases India's indigenously designed and produced naval prowess.

Equipped with medium-range and close-range guns, chaff launchers, and surface-to-surface missiles, the corvette is a formidable addition to Vietnam's maritime capabilities. However, it remains undisclosed if the transfer includes missiles.

China's response

In response to the diplomatic development, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, following a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, expressed Beijing's willingness to collaborate with Hanoi in strengthening high-level communication and cooperation, reported Reuters.

The South China Sea dispute

The South China Sea dispute is a long-standing territorial and maritime conflict involving multiple countries in the region. It primarily revolves around competing territorial claims over various islands, reefs, shoals, and waters in the South China Sea, which is located between Southeast Asia and China.

• Major claimants include China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.
• China asserts the largest portion of the sea with its "nine-dash line" claim.
• The dispute involves sovereignty, maritime boundaries, access to resources, freedom of navigation, and marine ecosystem protection.
• Tensions have escalated due to activities like artificial island construction, military installations, fishing disputes, and patrols.

India-Vietnam ties

India and Vietnam have been close political allies since the 1950s and have supported each other's positions on key international issues, such as the South China Sea dispute. In recent years, the two countries have also deepened their cooperation on security issues, such as counterterrorism and maritime security.

India and Vietnam have been cooperating on security issues for many years. In recent years, the two countries have stepped up their security cooperation in response to the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. This cooperation includes joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and maritime security.