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The Diplomat
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Diplomat
Philippines' Marcos to Visit India as Navies Hold First South China Sea Exercise
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to visit India this week, a trip that is set to coincide with the first bilateral naval exercise between the two countries in the South China Sea. Marcos is set to visit the country on August 4-8, the Hindustan Times reported yesterday, citing 'people familiar with the matter.' During Marcos' visit, his first to India since taking office in June 2022, he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and 'deliver a speech on the theme of the Philippines and India as partners for a rules-based order' on August 6. While the trip has seemingly not yet been officially announced by either side, he will presumably also meet with a range of other Indian officials and business leaders during the lengthy visit. The Hindustan Times also reported that on August 3, India and the Philippines will begin a two-day 'bilateral maritime cooperative activity,' or MCA, in waters close to the Scarborough Shoal, a focal point of the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines. The exercise 'will focus on enhancing inter-operability and maritime cooperation' and will commence after an August 2 port visit in Manila by four Indian warships: the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, the survey ship INS Sandhayak, the fleet tanker INS Shakti, and the anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan. Aside from the survey vessel, these warships will then reportedly take part in the exercise, the aim of which is 'to further strengthen the robust maritime relationship between the Philippine Navy and the Indian Navy,' Philippine Navy Capt. John Alcos told USNI News. Scarborough Shoal lies around 198 kilometers due west of Luzon, well within the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ). But the triangular shoal fell under China's control after a 10-week stand-off with the Philippines in 2012, and the China Coast Guard has maintained a nearly permanent presence at the shoal in the 11 years since. The Shoal has been one of several features in the South China Sea that have become flashpoints between China and the Philippines over the past few years, as Beijing has ramped up the frequency and intensity of its incursions into the Philippines' EEZ, which it claims under its expansive 'nine-dash line' claim. These have resulted in a number of dangerous high-seas encounters between the two nations' coast guard vessels, which have pushed the two countries close to conflict. In the case of Scarborough Shoal, most of the tensions have involved Chinese attempts to block Filipino fishermen from accessing the shoal's fish-rich internal lagoon. The Chinese encroachments have prompted the Philippines to expand maritime cooperation with its long-time security ally, the United States, and other 'like-minded' partners, including Australia, Canada, and Japan. During his State of the Nation address last week, Marcos said that such alliances helped make the Philippines more secure. 'Our confidence is higher because we have more allies, which would support us in the time of grave need,' he said, referring to ongoing frictions in the South China Sea. The fact that India is now reportedly joining in these efforts is unsurprising, given its shared concerns about China's growing maritime power, including in the South China Sea. Last year, India revised its stance on the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, moving from acknowledgement of the ruling to active calls for adherence to the judgment. The ruling supported most of the Philippines' claims and said that China's maximalist claims have no ruling under international maritime law. The planned MCA marks an important expansion of naval cooperation between India and the Philippines, moving it beyond more basic engagements such as passing exercises and disaster response operations. It also extends a gradual strengthening of defense cooperation between the two sides. In 2022, the Philippines became the first foreign country to purchase India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the second batch of which were delivered to the country in April of this year. Manila is also reported to be in talks for the purchase of the shorter-range Akash missile. As Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University told Newsweek, 'If this is the first bilateral MCA between India and the Philippines as designated officially, it sends a clear signal that India is signaling to be overtly supporting the Philippines in the South China Sea row with Beijing.'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
India Wades Into Contested South China Sea on Side of US Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. India will deploy warships to join South China Sea patrols next week in what analysts say is a "clear signal" of support for the Philippines in the U.S. ally's territorial dispute with China. Newsweek has contacted the Indian Defense Ministry and Philippine armed forces for comment via email. Why It Matters In the South China Sea, Beijing's expanding presence within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone has led to confrontations and pushed the U.S. treaty ally to deepen ties with Washington and regional partners, such as Japan and India. Like the Philippines, India shares long-standing territorial disputes with China. The Sino-Indian border has seen periodic skirmishes for decades, including a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020. India is also increasingly vying with China for geopolitical influence in the Asia-Pacific in line with New Delhi's "Act East" policy. What To Know Philippine and Indian naval forces will carry out a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone from August 4 to 8, New Delhi Television Ltd. reported over the weekend, citing sources familiar with the matter. The exercises, the first between the two countries since 2021, is set to commence after an August 2 port visit in Manila by four Indian warships: the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, survey ship INS Sandhayak, fleet tanker INS Shakti and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan. In this photograph taken on December 15, 2022, the guided missile destroyer Mormugao is seen at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on the eve of its commissioning into the Indian Navy. In this photograph taken on December 15, 2022, the guided missile destroyer Mormugao is seen at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on the eve of its commissioning into the Indian Navy. Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a spokesperson for the Philippine navy, told reporters on Tuesday that further details about the operations would be released once the ships had arrived, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. Beijing has not commented on the planned drills but has frequently criticized Manila over similar joint exercises with partners, calling them interference by outside powers in disputes between neighbors. India has previously expressed support for the Philippines in its maritime dispute with China. Last year, Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reaffirmed "India's support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty." The two countries have been increasing security ties. Last year, three Indian warships made a port call in the Philippines, which included talks between officials and cross-deck visits. In 2023, the Philippines became the first foreign country to take delivery of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles as part of its military modernization program. In April, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the country was set to receive a second batch of the Russia-India-developed missiles. What People Are Saying Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, told Newsweek: "Partners who so far took part in the bilateral and multilateral MCAs are those who have expressed open support for Manila against Beijing's coercive behavior. … If this is the first bilateral MCA between India and the Philippines as designated officially, it sends a clear signal that India is signaling to be overtly supporting the Philippines in the South China Sea row with Beijing." Chester Cabalza, the president of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told the Inquirer: "It truly builds up to the strategic clarity of pan Indo-Pacific strategy where India and the Philippines are sending a strong message to China in the South China Sea." What Happens Next Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to visit India next week to further bolster ties between the two countries.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Indian Navy ships conclude Singapore visit, enhance maritime ties
Singapore: The four Indian Navy warships — INS Delhi, INS Satpura, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan — under the command of Rear Admiral Susheel Menon wrapped up a successful port call to Singapore on Saturday which included professional interactions with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), discussions with the academia and multiple community outreach programmes. "As the Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Satpura Shakti and Kiltan led by RAdm Susheel Menon, VSM FOCEF conclude a highly successful Port Call at Singapore (July 16-19), covering professional exchanges with the RSN, interactions with the Academia and several community outreach activities, High Commission of India in Singapore wishes the Indian Navy contingent the very best for the deployment ahead," the Indian High Commission in Singapore posted on X. The Indian delegation on Friday visited the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) in Singapore and engaged in discussions on real-time information sharing, collaborative maritime surveillance and multilateral coordination efforts undertaken at IFC to enhance collective maritime security and domain awareness across the Indo-Pacific. In a major boost to India-Singapore maritime cooperation, four Indian Navy warships had arrived in Singapore on July 16 as part of the Eastern Fleet's operational deployment to South East Asia. The port call was a part of a wider effort to enhance maritime partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and reaffirm India's strategic commitment to the ASEAN region. Indian Navy and RSN share robust operational relations spanning over three decades of cooperation, coordination and collaboration with regular visits, exchange of best practices and reciprocal training arrangements. The visit underscored the strategic alignment between the two countries, particularly in upholding freedom of navigation and a rules-based order in maritime zones. The deployment of the Eastern Fleet ships to Southeast Asia reflects India's 'Act East' policy in action, promoting security, stability, and dialogue across the Indo-Pacific. Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar concluded a high-level official visit to Singapore, during which he held talks with the top leadership of the country on regional security, trade, and technological cooperation. Jaishankar described the India-Singapore relationship as 'a model partnership,' rooted in mutual trust and shared Indo-Pacific interests. India and Singapore enjoy over three decades of robust naval cooperation, marked by joint exercises, reciprocal training programmes, and regular port calls. With growing convergence in areas such as defence, cyber security, digital economy, and supply chain resilience, India and Singapore are poised to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership. As global geopolitics shifts, the synergy between India and Singapore continues to evolve as a cornerstone of regional peace and multilateral cooperation.
