Vietnam is boosting its naval defense capabilities in the South China Sea as it expects to receive four more Kilo-class submarines from Russia by 2016, a move experts believe could make China rethink its stance in goading its smaller neighbor in the region.

The submarines are part of efforts to enforce Vietnam's defensive stance to protect its sovereignty, said a senior official who spoke anonymously because of the issue's sensitivity.

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Vietnam has received two of the six submarines contracted with Russia in 2009 for US$2.6 billion. The third vessel is set to be delivered by November this year, while the remaining three are expected within the next two years.

The deal is far from being fulfilled, but Vietnam is already gearing up its marine capabilities.

The first two subs are already being used for training near the Vietnamese harbor of Cam Ranh Bay, according to Reuters. Additionally, Vietnam has sent naval troops in St. Petersburg to train aboard the third vessel ahead of its delivery this November.

China is also seeking to expand its naval fleet. Aside from the indigenous Yuan class subs, it currently operates 10 Improved Kilos and has placed an order for four additional Russian Lada submarines.

But despite this, experts speculate Vietnam's acquisition of the Kilo submarines, which they said would be used for sea denial operations, would likely alter China's projections over military action in the disputed waters.

Sea denial is an asymmetric warfare usually used by the weak to create a psychological deterrent that threatens offensive action without actually performing them. In this way, the stronger rival will never really know where the subs are, said Collin Koh from Singapore's S. Rajaratnam's School of International Studies.

He believes the Vietnamese are familiar with this type of warfare, but stressed that its success would depend on their ability to execute it flawlessly.

Military experts believe it will only be a matter of time before Hanoi sends its submarines in the South China Sea.

Siemon Wezeman, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), said Vietnam has changed the status quo, citing the country's expanding weapons development and capabilities.

For the Chinese, the Vietnamese deterrent is becoming real, he said.

Meanwhile, Lingnan University Chinese security expert Zhang Baohui said he believed Vietnam's naval expansion may be a cause for concern for Beijing.

"On a theoretical level, the Vietnamese are at the point where they could put them to combat use," he said.

TagsVietnam, Paracel Islands, maritime dispute, southeast asia, Military