Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in New Delhi, on October 28, 2014. (AFP photo)

This picture taken on May 14, 2014 from a Vietnamese coast guard ship shows Chinese coast guard vessels sailing near China's oil drilling rig in disputed waters in the South China Sea. (Getty Images photo)

Southwest Cay (also known as Pugad Island), is a small island controlled by Vietnam, is part of the Spratly Island chain in the hotly contested South China Sea. (Getty Images photo)

BEIJING: China on Tuesday warned India against meddling in its dispute with Vietnam over islands in the South China Sea. It also opposed the latest move by the Vietnamese government inviting India to carry out oil exploration in South China Sea."With regard to the Vietnamese prime minister’s call for India to support the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea, I want to point out that the dispute should be resolved through dialogue and consultations by countries directly involved on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law," Hong Lei, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said.He was reacting to an offer by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asking India to launch exploration in two oil fields for exploration in the South China Sea.Dung's offer made in New Delhi has surprised China because its state councillor Yang Jeichi has just returned from Hanoi after discussing measures to improve China-Vietnam relations.Hong said India should also respect the efforts being made by China and Vietnam to resolve their dispute instead of trying to play a role in it."Countries directly involved in the South China Sea dispute strive to resolve disputes through negotiation and consultation, and maintain regional peace and stability. Their efforts should be respected by relevant countries," Hong said."This is in line with international laws and common practices," Hong said, "... and is also the consensus reached by China and Asean countries in the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea)."India should not engage itself because it is not a party in the dispute between China and Vietnam over two sea islands. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha (Spratly) Islands in the South China Sea, which is also claimed by Vietnam, Hong said.At the same time, the ministry's reaction was noticeably less harsh compared to Beijing's stance three years back when the ONGC has begun oil exploration in the area in collaboration with a Vietnamese government company. China said it would not object to exploration by India if it was conducted in an area that was outside its claims of sovereignty.China does it mind "any lawful and justifiable exploration activity" in the area, the ministry spokesman said. But it is "firmly oppose" if such activity undermines the sovereignty and interests of China," he said.