The Intational Seabed Authority (ISA) signed a contract on the exploration of polymetallic sulphides submitted with the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) in November 2011.Surprisingly,the event has been hyped as an addition to the China threat by critics with ulterior motives.They say China is cxtending its tentacles into the Indian Ocean,challenging the oceanic interests of India.These accusations are both ignorant and absurd.Participation The newly contracted exploration area is located in the mid-oceanic ridge in the southwest Indian Ocean.It lies in the intational seabed area outside the national jurisdiction of coastal countries.The contract area covers about 10,000 square km.