China to pay heavy price for friendship with Pakistan, India's big move near South China Sea could...
India and China's bilateral relations deteriorated following the Galwan Valley skirmish, a violent confrontation between troops of both countries, in 2020. In the recent confrontation between India and Pakistan, Beijing helped Islamabad with military weapons and intelligence. Now, the Indian Armed Forces are going to do something that will surely anger the Dragon. In August, China's top enemy, the Philippines, is going to showcase its prowess to the world near the South China Sea, and Indian forces will encourage the Philippine forces. Philippines President To Visit India
Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is scheduled to visit India on a state visit between August 4-8. At the same period, naval forces of both India and the Philippines will conduct a maritime exercise near the South China Sea, on the coast of western Philippines. The bilateral relations between countries can be elevated to the level of a strategic partnership during this visit. Notably, Both Philippines and China claim Scarborough Shoal.
China claims most of the South China Sea and its resources. Due to this, it keeps clashing with the Philippines. However, in 2016, Beijing's claim on the South China Sea was rejected under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). But this doesn't change China's stand and it continues to claim most parts of the South China Sea, because of which it also engages in sea and air clashes with the Philippine army. Why Is Military Exercise Between India And Philippines Important?
The military exercise is important due to China's growing dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. This dominance is not only around Scarborough Shoal, but also around Second Thomas Shoal, which leads to skirmishes between the countries. The Philippine President's upcoming visit to India will boost defence and maritime ties between the two countries. For the first time, India and the Philippines will hold joint naval exercises which is a major step as the Manila faces sea disputes with China.
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