India Pledges Defence Support to Philippines Amid China Tensions
New Delhi reiterates commitment to Manila’s defence capabilities, including BrahMos missile supplies, ahead of PM Modi’s November 16–18 visit.
Amid continuing maritime tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, India on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Manila's defence capabilities, including through the supply of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
New Delhi also opposed efforts to isolate Myanmar, warning that such a move could allow other countries to fill the resulting vacuum.
The statements came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Manila from November 16 to 18 to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.
At a special briefing, ministry of external affairs secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon said India and the Philippines shared a strategic partnership under which New Delhi was committed to helping Manila develop its defence capabilities.
He referred to the earlier agreement for the supply of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines, which is seeking additional systems to strengthen its coastal defences amid growing tensions with China.
The Philippines became the first foreign buyer of BrahMos missiles under a $375-million agreement signed in 2022. Reports indicate that the two countries are now discussing a substantially larger deal for additional missile systems.
On Myanmar, Tandon said isolating the country was not the right approach and emphasised the need for continued engagement with its leadership.
"Isolating Myanmar is not the right approach, because if we do, someone else will fill that vacuum," he said, adding that there was no alternative to engagement.
India strongly supported ASEAN's efforts to engage Myanmar and believed that patience and consistency were essential in dealing with the country's complex political situation, he said.
New Delhi's position comes amid China's longstanding strategic ties with Myanmar, where the military continues to wield considerable influence.
On the proposed Code of Conduct being negotiated between China and ASEAN countries for the South China Sea, Tandon said any agreement must conform to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He stressed that the agreement should not prejudice the legitimate rights of countries that were not parties to the negotiations.
China has overlapping maritime claims with several ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, raising concerns over regional security and freedom of navigation.
