Indian Naval Chief Admiral D K Joshi
has stated that in case Indian economic interests in the South China Sea be threatened it will move its naval fleet to protect it.
India had signed a deal with the Vietnamese to explore oil and gas in the region.
India has sparred diplomatically with China in the past over its gas and oil exploration block off the coast of Vietnam.
This region has vast reserves of oil and gas and China also has disputes with the Philippines, Japan, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan
over parts of the South China Sea that are reportedly claimed by them.
China has claimed that it fully within its rights to stop vessels that intrude in its waters.
Given its growing economy China is keen to explore virtually the entire mineral-rich South China Sea
and has stepped up its military presence there.
[youtube]O8TH1d6DRw8[/youtube]