Vietnam's recent acquisition of new six 636MV killer submarines is being deemed by some political analysts as something that can further heat-up the brewing tension in the South China Sea between Vietnam and China.

"Vietnam's new submarines could alter the balance in the South China Sea quite dramatically," said in a report by The National Interest.

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It is being projected by many that Vietnam's new Kilo-class submarines, which were imported from Russia, will soon pose a threat to China's growing power in the South China Sea.

This move of Vietnam is also being seen as its own way of arming itself for a possible confrontation with China as the latter further presses its claims to majority of the South China Sea.

The two nations have been aggressive in their claims over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea. In 2014, Vietnamese fishing boats clashed with Chinese boats in the disputed sea. Vietnam also criticized China's attempt to drill oil in the contested areas in the South China Sea.

"A confrontation in the South China Sea could be more devastating than any war, any confrontation that you have seen in the Region," said Vietnamese Institute for Foreign Affairs and Strategic Studies Director Hoang Anh Tuan.

Also, Vietnam's obvious alliance with the United States is said to further add tension between Vietnam and China. Some analysts believe that Vietnam is being used by the United States to strengthen its hold on the Pacific Region.

Meanwhile, experts say China's purchase of Gaoxin-6, a new maritime patrol aircraft, can counter the threat that Vietnam posed with its killer submarines.

China has also equipped itself with a new undersea surveillance system that is being claimed by China as a major breakthrough. China has already allegedly deployed these fixed listening arrays in the South China Sea.

TagsVietnam submarines