Indian Brahmos Against China

Newsaq

India’s quiet delivery of the third batch of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines is reshaping the balance of power in the South China Sea. Backed by the U.S. NMESIS and Typhon systems, this growing missile shield is tightening pressure on China, while Japan also joins the military drills. For Beijing, this is more than provocation—it’s a challenge to its dominance.

Transcript

00:00In recent months, a quiet but powerful shift has been unfolding in the Indo-Pacific.

00:06India, without much noise, has steadily armed the Philippine with the BrahMos supersonic cruise

00:11missiles. The third batch is now being delivered, strengthening Manila's hands in ways that

00:17directly challenge Beijing's dominance in the South China Sea. For China, this is more than

00:23just another arms deal. It is the beginning of a strategic headache that refuses to go away.

00:30The BrahMos travels at nearly three times the speed of sound, strikes with deadly precision,

00:36and has a reputation as one of the most formidable anti-ship missiles.

00:40For a country like the Philippine, often seen as militarily vulnerable against China,

00:46such a weapon changes the equation dramatically. Chinese naval vessels patrolling contested waters

00:52know they cannot move unchecked. Beijing realizes that India is quietly arming its rival right in

00:59the heart of its strategic backyard. But India is not acting alone. Alongside the BrahMos deal,

01:07the United States is deploying its Enmesis system, while also preparing Typhon launchers capable of

01:12firing Tomahawks and SM-6 missiles. Japan, too, is partnering in large-scale drills like Resolute Dragon.

01:20These parallel moves are weaving a new defensive net around the South China Sea, making China feel

01:27increasingly boxed in. And in this tightening net, the Philippine is emerging as a sharper thorn than

01:34Beijing ever expected. China's reaction has been predictable. Strong words, repeated warnings,

01:42and accusations of provocation. Yet beneath the rhetoric lies genuine concern. Beijing sees how its

01:50neighbors are no longer standing alone. India, by supplying BrahMos, has elevated the Philippine

01:56from a weak claimant to a credible deterrent power. And Washington, by stationing advanced missile systems

02:03in the region, is signaling that the South China Sea will not be a one-sided game. Each new missile system

02:10on Philippine soil is a reminder to China that its claims will be contested, not just diplomatically,

02:16but militarily. For the Philippine, this is more than hardware. It is a psychological boost,

02:23a reassurance that it can stand up to a giant. The presence of BrahMos batteries along its shores

02:30transforms its defense posture. Chinese warships encroaching into disputed waters now face the risk

02:37of instant retaliation. And the message to Beijing is clear. The era of unchecked dominance in the

02:43South China Sea is beginning to fade. India, through its quite yet decisive support, has helped plant the

02:50seeds of resistance against China's maritime ambitions. The strategic implications go beyond

02:56Manila and Beijing. Across Southeast Asia, neighbors are watching closely. If the Philippine can deter China

03:05with BrahMos, who might be next to seek such weapons? Will Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia consider similar

03:13moves? And how will China respond if its sphere of influence keeps shrinking? These are the questions

03:20reshaping the balance of power in Asia's most volatile waters. As we move forward, the world must watch not only

03:28how many BrahMos missiles the Philippine receives, but also where they are deployed and how China reacts. Will Beijing

03:35test Manila's resolve with more aggressive naval patrols? Will it ramp up its missile deployments on artificial

03:42islands in response? Or will it seek diplomatic off-ramps before the arms race spirals further?

03:48One thing is certain, India's decision to quietly arm the Philippine has created new problems for China

03:55in the South China Sea. It is important to recognize the larger reality. China continues to stage massive

04:03military parades, showcasing state-of-the-art weapons, hypersonic missiles, stealth aircraft and naval power

04:10that has no true match in the Philippine and not even in India. In some domains, Beijing has even edged

04:17ahead of the United States, signaling its intent to dominate the future battlefield. Against such a

04:24rising power, direct rivalry can prove harmful for smaller nations and even risky for regional players

04:30like India. The Philippine may gain deterrence with BrahMos and India may score strategic points,

04:37but challenging China at this stage of its rise carries consequences that extend far beyond the South

04:42China Sea. Like and subscribe for more untapped news and analysis around the world.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended