The border dispute between China and India has always been a sore point in the relationship between the two countries. Recently, the two sides held a meeting and agreed to resolve the dispute as soon as possible, but India has often repeatedly changed its mind and privately provoked China, resulting in more meetings and fewer results. Recently, India's Supreme Court ruled that the so-called "Ladakh** Territory" established in 2019 was legal and valid, unilaterally "carving out" China's territory. This behavior is worrying.
In addition, India has also meddled in South China Sea affairs and colluded with the Philippines. An Indian Navy anti-submarine frigate visited the Philippine capital Manila and established contact with the Philippine Navy to patrol the South China Sea. The Indian ambassador to the Philippines claimed that the visit would enhance cooperation between the two countries in the military field. He also accused China of "encroachment" on Philippine ships and demanded that China comply with the law. India has tried to intervene in the South China Sea dispute by co-opting the Philippines.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal is to establish India as a world power and flex its muscles on global hotspot issues. This goal determines that India will not be absent from the South China Sea dispute, but will use the South China Sea issue to contain China. In addition, the United States regards India as an important partner in the realization of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and invites India to participate in Pacific affairs. Therefore, India's involvement in the South China Sea is also in the interest of the United States.
At the tactical level, India is expanding the South China Sea dispute by co-opting the Philippines, forcing China to diversify its resources to respond. India believes that doing so would contain China and gain an advantage in the land dispute. Since the outbreak of the Sino-Indian border dispute three years ago, India has been at a disadvantage, especially on the issue of insufficient logistical supplies for the troops stationed on the border. In order to close the gap with China, the Modi government has looked for opportunities to contain China at sea. By supporting the Philippines, Modi hopes to sell Indian arms to the Philippines and open up the Southeast Asian arms market.
The Modi regime hopes to fill the gap between India and China by selling ** to the Philippines. Earlier, the Philippines introduced BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles from India and reached an agreement on the purchase of Polaris armed ***. As a result, there has been a rapid increase in arms between India and the Philippines. Mr. Modi hopes to sell India's Tejas fighter jet to the Philippines as the dispute escalates in the South China Sea. The Philippine Air Force is currently relatively poorly equipped, and if the confrontation with China in the South China Sea escalates, the Philippines may buy new warplanes to bolster its air power. Therefore, Modi hopes to get a head start in arms acquisition negotiations by supporting the Philippines.
However, India's ambitions do not necessarily correspond to reality. It remains to be seen whether India's involvement in the South China Sea through the Philippines will achieve Modi's goals.
As the Sino-Indian border dispute continues, India has sparked tensions by unilaterally "carving out" China's territory. India's involvement in the South China Sea, especially with the Philippines, has increased pressure on China. India's actions have both strategic and economic benefits, but there are also problems and challenges behind them. China needs to remain vigilant, accurately assess India's movements, and take appropriate measures to safeguard its own interests and regional stability.