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News18
07-08-2025
- Business
- News18
India, Philippines Strengthen Indo-Pacific Doctrine In Message To China And US
The Philippines needs reliable partners, and India has skin in the game. From BrahMos to joint naval drills, India is embracing its role in the South China Sea. Central to this is the Philippines, with whom India just conducted a joint military exercise, right under the nose of China. The Philippines needs reliable partners, and India has skin in the game. This week, the two nations elevated their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership". The upgrade was formalised during President Ferdinand 'Bongbong" Marcos Jr's state visit to New Delhi on August 5, 2025, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. But beyond the ceremonial optics lies a deeper realignment, one shaped by Chinese assertiveness, America's unpredictability, and the rising role of India. The highlight of the visit — a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan and the warm rhetoric exchanged was complemented by the 13 bilateral agreements signed, and more importantly, the establishment of a roadmap for the Strategic Partnership through to 2029. India is the only fifth strategic partner of the Philippines, the other four being Japan, Australia, Vietnam and South Korea. With the United States, its closest ally, Manila has a Mutual Defence Treaty. But the USA's commitment is proving to be transient. But facing an increasingly belligerent China in the South China Sea, the Philippines needs more partners with skin in the game. India is the obvious choice here. It can be a reliable maritime security, defence and economic partner. And it's for this reason that a great geopolitical alignment is brewing between the two nations. Marcos said in New Delhi, 'Indo-Pacific is the correct evolution of Asia-Pacific," adding that the term better reflects the global nature of politics, trade, and the economy today. Earlier this week, just before this meeting between Modi and Marcos, India and the Philippines conducted their first-ever joint naval drills in the contested waters near Scarborough Shoal—a bold move that sends a clear signal to Beijing. The two-day 'bilateral maritime cooperative activity" focused on tactical coordination and strengthening joint maritime capabilities. The optics cannot be understated: an Indian warship conducting operations in waters where Chinese vessels have routinely harassed Filipino fishermen and naval craft. India is also in talks with Manila to develop submarine infrastructure in the Philippines, further reinforcing trust and long-term defence alignment. The defence pillar is anchored by the $375 million BrahMos missile deal in 2022. India delivered the second batch of the supersonic cruise missile system earlier this year. Remember, the Philippines is the first international buyer of BrahMos, which is now battle-proven after its deployment in Operation Sindoor. With timely delivery and combat-proven reliability, the Philippines' decision to bet on India's defence industry has paid off. That is why Manila wants more. It is now exploring additional acquisitions including the shorter-range Akash missile system and deeper co-development and co-production initiatives with India. This is more than a buyer-seller dynamic. It's a strategic deterrent partnership, one where India plays the role of an assertive but dependable security provider in a region fatigued by great power brinkmanship. Now let's look deeper into how the challenges faced by the Philippines have brought it closer to India. The Philippines, a sprawling archipelago of over 7,000 islands, is strategically located at the crossroads of East and Southeast Asia. With a population nearing 120 million and a growing services-led economy, it is also Asia's most vulnerable frontline state against Chinese aggression. Beijing has repeatedly challenged Manila's sovereignty in the South China Sea including laser attacks, water cannon assaults, and blockades near Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. And that's right: I said laser attacks. In 2023, the Chinese coast guard allegedly shined a military grade laser at a Philippines coast guard vessel, temporarily blinding the crew. All this is linked to China's claims over the South China Sea. Despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that rejected China's expansive maritime claims against the Philippines, Beijing continues to operate with impunity. The US remains a treaty ally of the Philippines, but as recent history shows, from Trump's tariff threats to his abandonment of Taiwan visit plans, Washington's support can be erratic. In contrast, India offers strategic stability without conditions: a partner that shares maritime concerns, respects sovereignty, and doesn't seek to dominate. With this, India's Indo-Pacific doctrine has come of age. It has a role to play not just in the Indian ocean, but in the South China Sea and beyond–-a reality that is embracing assertively. For India, the Philippines is a crucial link in a web of like-minded maritime democracies, including Japan, Australia, and Indonesia. New Delhi's Indo-Pacific vision, centred on freedom of navigation, international law, and regional autonomy, is steadily transitioning from declaratory diplomacy to operational engagement. Prime Minister Modi reiterated this during his meeting with Marcos, stating India's unwavering support for a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to peace, security, and prosperity in the region. Notably, India also revised its official position last year to support the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, reflecting its growing alignment with Southeast Asian concerns over China. Meanwhile, Manila also strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack. This geopolitical alignment is fueling a future harvest in economic ties. Currently, trade stands at only $3 billion, but that is set to change. Starting off with a powerful gesture, Manila announced visa-free entry for Indian tourists, while India will reciprocate with free e-visas for Filipinos. Direct flights between the two countries are also set to begin. Further, the two nations are seeking to fast-track negotiations for a bilateral preferential trade agreement. The Philippines, as the ASEAN Chair in 2026, will play a crucial role in the review of the India-ASEAN FTA. Moreover, the two leaders have committed to linking their national payment systems, a significant step in enhancing people-to-people and business-to-business exchanges. India will also assist Manila in developing a sovereign data cloud, enhancing the Philippines' cybersecurity posture. This is significant, especially as it faces a major Chinese cybersecurity threat. As China continues its maritime expansion and the US oscillates between engagement and retrenchment, nations like the Philippines are hedging their bets and increasingly turning to India. This Strategic Partnership is a signal that in the Indo-Pacific's evolving security architecture, India is not just a participant, it is an architect. About the Author Shubhangi Sharma Shubhangi Sharma is News Editor - Special Projects at News18. She covers foreign affairs and geopolitics, and also keeps a close watch on the national pulse of India. tags : China finepoint India philippines view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 07, 2025, 15:05 IST News opinion India, Philippines Strengthen Indo-Pacific Doctrine In Message To China And US Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Will Philippines help US in another Middle East conflict?
Advertisement The issue came up at a press briefing conducted by the Philippine military on Tuesday, where officials were asked if facilities designated under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) could be used to support US operations against Iran. Following multiple attacks from Israel and Iran against each other earlier this month, the US joined its Israeli ally by attacking three nuclear facilities in Iran on Sunday. In retaliation, Iran launched multiple missiles targeting US forces at an air base in Qatar on Monday. EDCA, along with the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, grants US forces rotational access to select Philippine military bases, where they preposition fuel, ammunition and other equipment. These arrangements operate alongside the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty (MDT), which commits both countries to act in the event of an armed attack on either party in the Pacific. Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, spokeswoman for the Philippine military, declined to confirm whether those facilities could be used in the current conflict, saying only: 'We do not want to hone in on the role of the armed forces. At this point in time, we are prepared for any contingencies.' Advertisement The Philippine military's current priority was 'to make sure that our countrymen will come home safe', she added.
AsiaOne
04-06-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
White House calls South Korea election 'fair', expresses concern about Chinese influence, World News
WASHINGTON — The White House said on Tuesday (June 3) that South Korea's election, which saw liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung win the presidency, was fair, but it expressed concern about Chinese interference. "The US-ROK Alliance remains ironclad. While South Korea had a free and fair election, the United States remains concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world," a White House official said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment made at an earlier White House briefing. "ROK" refers to the Republic of Korea. The official did not elaborate on the reference to alleged Chinese interference or connect it directly to the South Korean election. In recent days, however, right-wing allies of US President Donald Trump have taken aim at Lee, who has spoken of the need to balance Seoul's relations with China and the United States. Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has jockeyed her way up from online agitator to self-appointed Trump adviser, posted "RIP South Korea" on X on Tuesday after Lee's victory became clear. "The communists have taken over Korea and won the Presidential election today," she wrote. "This is terrible," she added. Loomer has shown herself to be highly influential: Several high-ranking White House officials were fired this year after she presented Trump with a list of national security staffers she perceived to be disloyal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement congratulating Lee, and like the White House spoke about the two countries' alliance, also calling it "ironclad". He made no mention of concerns about China. "The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties," Rubio said. "We are also modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges." Rubio also said the United States would continue to deepen trilateral co-operation with South Korea and Japan, "to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles". As South Korea's ousted former president, Yoon Suk-yeol, fought for his political life earlier this year, he raised unsubstantiated claims about possible fraud in South Korea's elections as one reason for his announcement of a martial law decree that had prompted his ouster. His backers adopted "Stop the Steal" slogans and expressed hopes that Trump would intervene to help, but that never came. Last week, without providing evidence, Trump ally Mike Flynn, a retired general who briefly served as the president's national security adviser during his first term, referred in a post on X to "signs of fraud" in the South Korea election, and said a fraudulent outcome would only benefit the Chinese Communist Party. Another Trump ally, Steve Bannon, explored a similar theme of Chinese election interference on his WarRoom channel last week. [[nid:718612]]
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung takes office
(Reuters) -South Korea has elected liberal Lee Jae-myung as president to lead the country through a tumultuous period that will require negotiating trade tariffs with the U.S. and mending the scars from his ousted predecessor's shock martial law declaration. Following are some reactions to his victory: MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE "We congratulate President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the next president of the Republic of Korea (ROK)." "The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties. We are also modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges." "We will also continue to deepen U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles." SHIGERU ISHIBA, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN "Japan and South Korea are important neighbours that should cooperate as partners on various international issues," "The importance of Japan-South Korea relations remains unchanged under the current strategic environment. The cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States is also important." Ishiba also told reporters that the two countries should hold a bilateral summit as soon as possible. ANTONIO COSTA, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL "Looking forward to deepening our strategic partnership as key allies in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. We share a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and we highly value South Korea's global role." (Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Straits Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung takes office
South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung talks to attendees during the conclusion of his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 4, 2025. ANTHONY WALLACE/Pool via REUTERS South Korea has elected liberal Lee Jae-myung as president to lead the country through a tumultuous period that will require negotiating trade tariffs with the U.S. and mending the scars from his ousted predecessor's shock martial law declaration. Following are some reactions to his victory: MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE "We congratulate President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the next president of the Republic of Korea (ROK)." "The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties. We are also modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges." "We will also continue to deepen U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral cooperation to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles." SHIGERU ISHIBA, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN "Japan and South Korea are important neighbours that should cooperate as partners on various international issues," "The importance of Japan-South Korea relations remains unchanged under the current strategic environment. The cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States is also important." Ishiba also told reporters that the two countries should hold a bilateral summit as soon as possible. ANTONIO COSTA, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL "Looking forward to deepening our strategic partnership as key allies in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. We share a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and we highly value South Korea's global role." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
