BACK in March, Indian officials stated their support for the Philippines with regards to our maritime situation with China, and it does not end with talk.
India has also recently finalized the sale of three missile systems, under the BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd, to our Navy.
So why is India supporting the Philippines?
We have a common problem: the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
For a long time, India had wanted to be neutral in global conflicts. They had wanted to be neutral with regards to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), and now, they want to be neutral in the United States-led alliance vs Russia-China-Tehran alliance. Yes, India is part of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) but that is less important than the realities on the ground.
China is not only flexing its muscles on the West Philippine Sea. They are also trying to expand into India’s backyard, namely the Himalayas and Bhutan.
From what I know, India has managed to counter the PRC’s plans in the Himalayas; not so much in Bhutan.
The PRC is trying to make in-roads via construction projects. You can learn more about the situation in India and Bhutan by Googling the latest news, but the gist of it is this, India is having the same issues Southeast Asian countries are facing vis a vis China.
If Bhutan becomes a Chinese sphere of influence, it would endanger large sections of Northern India.
So this would hopefully explain why the Indians are being a little friendly to the Philippines. The only question I have is, why would China antagonize several neighboring states at the same time, pushing them together or at least, pushing them closer to the US side?
If I were among the PRC’s leaders I would try to avoid agitating in Bhutan while I’m facing Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and yet that’s what the Chinese are doing: agitating on multiple fronts.
If that’s what they want, good. The Philippines should take India as an ally./PN
