New Delhi:Despite the well-established paradigm not to concoct religion and politics, a combo that becomes more potent if there is a military aspect to it, India is pursuing it full steam in pursuance of the ‘Act East’ policy effort and Bodh Gaya, where India’s Officers’ Training Academy is also located, is occupying centre-stage in the effort.
The ‘Act East’ policy focuses to promote closer ties with the countries in the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region—including Vietnam—in pursuit of the country’s political, strategic and cultural aims.
On Tuesday, a top military delegation from Vietnam led by the Chief of General Staff Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang who is also the deputy defence minister of the Vietnamese army along with 18 prayed at the Mahabodhi Temple, where the 6th century BC saint is believed to have gained ‘nirvana’ or supreme knowledge sitting beneath a banyan tree.
One of the most revered holy sites for Buddhists, the site also has an 80 feet high statue of the Buddha. Besides growing bilateral ties that are strongly focused on military and strategic dimensions, Vietnam is increasingly looking at India for weapons procurement and has expressed keen interest in buying the lethal Brahmos missile from India. Brahmos is being produced jointly by India and Russia.
In 2018, the two countries have agreed to top-level interactions, port calls for navy and coast guard ships, and a commitment to uphold the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
Of late, India has increased its naval presence in the South China Sea, and this year itself conducted several joint exercises with Vietnam.