Philippines reinforces defense with BrahMos missile base – Defense News

In a strategic move to counter China, the Philippines is establishing a base for BrahMos missileintended to monitor the Chinese war fleet in the South China Sea. Rising tensions between the two nations have led the Philippines to improve its defense capabilities by acquiring the BrahMos missile system from India.

Recent open source satellite imagery has revealed the construction of a BrahMos site in Zambales on the western coast of Luzon in the Philippines. This strategic location allows the Philippines to keep a close eye on Chinese warships, aircraft, drones and submarines. The BrahMos missile, a land-based anti-ship weapons system, significantly enhances the Philippines’ ability to safeguard its maritime borders and respond to potential threats in the disputed waters.

The situation worsened recently when a Philippine supply ship was struck by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel near the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. China said the Philippine ship entered waters near Second Thomas Shoal, prompting Chinese forces to expel it. The Spratly Islands are a controversial area, with China and the Philippines claiming these territories.

The Chinese Coast Guard reported the incident on social media platform WeChat, claiming that the Philippine supply ship ignored repeated warnings and approached the Chinese vessel in an unprofessional manner, leading to the collision. China placed the blame squarely on the Philippines for the incident.

In response, the Philippines reiterated its position, highlighting that the Second Thomas Shoal is within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), just under 200 nautical miles from its coast. The Philippines stressed that China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea have been invalidated by international rulings. Despite several clashes in recent months near the sandbar, the Philippines has maintained a post on the BRP Sierra Madre ship as a symbol of its sovereignty.

Ongoing tensions have seen several instances of conflict between Chinese and Philippine ships. Last year, the Chinese coast guard deliberately rammed Philippine ships and even used water cannons against the Filipino crew. These aggressive actions drew condemnation from several nations, including the United States.

In response to China’s assertive policies in the South China Sea, the United States has formed a new Quad-like alliance that includes Australia, Japan and the Philippines. This coalition aims to counterbalance China’s influence in the region. China, however, has warned the Philippines against aligning itself too closely with the US, suggesting that the Philippines is being misled and could become a pawn in a broader geopolitical struggle, drawing parallels with the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

As the Philippines continues to bolster its defense posture with the BrahMos missile system and alliances with other regional powers, strategic dynamics in the South China Sea remain tense. The establishment of the missile base in Zambales represents a significant step in the Philippines’ efforts to protect its territorial integrity and assert its rights in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness.

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