
Philippines to receive second batch of BrahMos missile system from India
MANILA - The Philippines is set to receive its second batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India, its defence secretary said on Wednesday, which should bolster the country's coastal defence capabilities amid escalating tensions with China.
The expected arrival of the missile system will be the second of three BrahMos missile batteries Manila agreed to purchase under a 2022 deal with Brahmos Aerospace worth $375 million. The first batch arrived in April 2024.
"Now that they're arriving, we will do what needs to be done to ensure they are used properly," Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters.
The BrahMos, which has a range of 290 km and can be fired from land, sea and submarine, is part of the Philippine military's modernisation programme.
The second missile battery delivery comes at a time when diplomatic and security ties between Manila and Beijing are strained due to frequent clashes in the South China Sea, which China claims mostly as its own, and recently accusations of espionage.
Teodoro pushed back strongly against China's recent arrest of three Filipinos accused of spying, calling the allegations implausible.
Chinese authorities arrested three Filipinos and accused them of working for the Philippine intelligence agency to gather classified information on its military, the state-run China Daily reported on April 3, citing state security officials. It said the three had confessed to the crime.
"What capability do Filipinos have to spy in China?," Teodoro said. "What interest do we have in what goes inside their country? Our interest is what they are doing in the West Philippine Sea," he added using the term Manila uses to refer to its exclusive economic zone.
Teodoro also rejected assertions the Philippine government is fuelling anti-Chinese sentiment, saying that if such sentiment exist, the blame lies with the Chinese Communist Party.
"I will say without hesitation that they are the main cause of xenophobia," Teodoro said. "If there's xenophobia, it's because of the overreach of the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, not just around the world, but even among their own people.'
There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila on the Philippine's defence secretary's remarks.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Harvard's enduring leftist leanings: From Castro to campus controversies
Fidel Castro. (Getty Images) Harvard university, a beacon of liberal academia and a prominent US academic leader, has long displayed a discernible inclination towards leftist ideologies, a trend that has recently drawn sharp criticism from the Trump administration. This perceived political alignment intensified as President Donald Trump, citing Harvard's opposition to his policies and personal history, began imposing restrictions on the university's federal funding. While Trump denied personal resentment from any alleged Harvard rejection, the antipathy deepened significantly following the university community's response to the October 7 Hamas attack. The institution faced widespread condemnation for its "disgraceful display of anti-Israel vitriol and tacit endorsement of violent messaging," which then-president Claudine Gay initially refused to condemn, ultimately leading to her resignation, as reported by The Hill. This incident provided ample opportunity for Trump to lambast Harvard, given that approximately 90 percent of its student body and faculty reportedly supported his Democratic opponents in the three most recent presidential elections, as stated by The Hill. The Trump administration's scrutiny broadened further when Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa revocations for Chinese students with Communist Party ties or those studying in "critical fields." Later, Trump issued a proclamation limiting the entry of international students to Harvard for study and research, as reported by The Hill. A soft spot for leftist leaders Harvard's historical leanings are not a new phenomenon. In 1959, the university notably hosted Fidel Castro, the young Cuban revolutionary who had just overthrown the right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista. During his visit, Castro delivered a fiery speech extolling his revolution. In a question-and-answer session, when confronted with reports of summary executions without trials, Castro vehemently denied any extra-judicial killings, as reported by The Hill. Less than two years later, despite his repeated claims of "I am not a Communist," Castro declared his Marxist-Leninist ideology and Cuba's alliance with the Soviet Union, as observed by The Hill. Vietnam war and Communist influence The Vietnam War era further underscored Harvard's evolving political landscape. Despite the conflict's origins under Harvard alumnus John F. Kennedy, the faculty and student body progressively turned against escalating US intervention under Lyndon Johnson. They increasingly viewed North Vietnam's Communist dictator, Ho Chi Minh, as merely an "agrarian reformer" and the Communist Vietcong as "oppressed democrats" rather than agents of North Vietnam's invasion, as reported by The Hill. In May 1965, when Johnson's Secretary of State Dean Rusk criticized the academic community for its "stubborn disregard of plain facts," Harvard led numerous Boston and Cambridge colleges in drafting a unified response to Rusk, as stated by The Hill. This period demonstrated how U.S. universities, including Harvard, became fertile ground for communist influence operations, a fact that China, North Vietnam's primary supporter, exploited for decades. Countering malign activities on US campuses The House Select Committee on China has since detailed the Chinese Communist Party's extensive efforts to leverage the openness of American society, particularly in acquiring technical and scientific information. A notable instance occurred in 2021 when Harvard professor Charles Lieber was convicted of selling classified information to Chinese university colleagues and lying to federal investigators about it, as reported by The Hill. Such incidents have cast a shadow over many international scholars in the US. University officials and government investigators now face the challenge of cooperating to counter "malign activities on US campuses without damaging America's reputation for free speech and open idea exchange," as noted by The Hill – an outcome that would be a strategic victory for Beijing. This dilemma extends beyond academia, as decades of US Defense Department military exercises with the People's Liberation Army, intended to build mutual understanding, have arguably ignored the underlying reality that in China's totalitarian system, "everything in academia, economics, and the military is subservient not to the needs and interests of the Chinese people but to the Chinese Communist Party," as stated by The Hill. Joseph Bosco, who served as China country director for the Secretary of Defense, emphasized that changing China remains a daunting challenge, and the "wishful thinking of unconditional engagement" has proven both futile and increasingly perilous, as quoted by The Hill. Both Harvard and the US government must now dedicate their best minds to this complex endeavor. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.

Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ireland Riots: Immigrant Homes Torched, 15 Cops Thrashed In Ballymena 'Racist Attack'
Trump Defends US Troops In Los Angeles To Quell Riots | 'California's Newsom Blew It Up' U.S. President Donald Trump held 'Invest America Roundtable' as anti-ICE protests rocked Los Angeles. He lashed out at California governor Gavin Newsom and accused him of blowing up the situation while defending the action of cops in riot gear and the U.S. National Guard. Meanwhile, MAGA activists pushed for a blanket ban on all immigration from third-world countries. Watch for more details. 4.0K views | 13 hours ago


Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mega anti-Trump protests in Chicago, Michigan on June 14 coincides with President's birthday: 10 points
Massive protests are planned against Donald Trump as part of the No Kings Protest to protest against President and his policies during his second term in the White House. "No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance," states. "From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism − and show the world what democracy really looks like." Around 1,500 protests are being organized across the US. The 'No Kings' protest coincides with the day of military parade to honour the 250th birthday of the Army and the 79th birthday of the President Trump. ALSO READ: Massive 'No King' protest planned in more than 1500 US cities to counter Trump's June 14 parade: 10 points Here are ten things you need to know about June 14 protests: - No Kings" protest are planned across the country on June 14, the latest anti-Trump protest organized amid his second term in office. The group organizing the 'No Kings' national day of action accused the Trump administratoon of 'escalating tensions' in a statement released on Sunday. -The protests are expected to be the biggest one-day anti-Trump administration rally, with more than 100 advocacy groups planning local rallies across 50 states according to Axios. Live Events -"We'll rise together and say: We reject political violence. We reject fear as governance. We reject the myth that only some deserve freedom," wrote the coalition behind "No Kings" rallies planned for June 14. ALSO READ: Sonoma county woman sues Costco for over $14 million after shocking display cabinet incident -Protests are being organised in more than 1500 US cities and rallies are expected to take place in Michigan, Chicago, Marion, Oshkosh and others. In Chicago, there's a rally in Daley Plaza at noon Saturday, but also events stretching from Beverly to Jefferson Park, and suburbs including Joliet, Oak Park, Evanston and Gurnee, reports Axios. -In Michigan, A No Kings rally and march are planned for 1–4pm at Clark Park in Detroit, with food, music and speeches, including from U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Events are also planned in about 10 other cities in Metro Detroit, including Dearborn, Ferndale, Novi and Romeo. Times vary, Axios reported. - The widespread anti-Trump movement will run counter to Trump's multimillion-dollar military parade in D.C. on June 14. More than 100 pro-democracy advocacy groups are partnering to organize the No Kings events. ALSO READ: Giant dust storm equal the size of 48 US states likely to hit Florida this week. Is it heading your way? -In Oshkosh, according to an event flier, protesters will take to the streets around Opera House Square, 315 N. Main St., from noon to 3 p.m. for what is being described as a 'commitment to nonviolent action.' 'We've watched as they've cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts.' -The 'No Kings' website says, 'On June 14—Flag Day—President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn't staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else. No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we're taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.' ALSO READ: Did Elon Musk 'take' Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's wife? Screenshot goes viral -No, Kings are not scheduled to have an organized protest in Washington, D.C. "We want to create contrast, not conflict," said Leah Greenberg, co-executive director of Indivisible, one of the partner groups. -There have been many other protests organized by groups like Indivisible and 50501 since then, including on Memorial Day weekend, "Hands Off" protests in April and May Day demonstrations last month. According to 50501, more than 3 million people turned out for the protests in April.