Xiaoma Kesi reported to visit India in early August for a state visit, and the Indian and Philippine navies will hold their first bilateral exercise in the South China Sea
According to news from New Delhi Television, President of the Philippines, Xiaoma Kesi, will make a state visit to India during the first week of August. Sources said that during Xiaoma Kesi's visit to India from August 4th to 8th, the Indian and Philippine navies will hold their first joint bilateral maritime exercise, also known as "Maritime Cooperation Activities" (MCA), on August 3rd to 4th. The exercise will be held in strategic waters facing the South China Sea, near the Scarborough Shoal (known as the Huangyan Island in China) off the western coast of the Philippines.
The report stated that another related development is that four Indian navy ships are scheduled to conduct a friendly visit to the Philippines starting on July 30th, including the latest hydrographic survey ship "Sandhyak". So far, the number of Indian navy ships participating in visits to the Philippines has been up to three. The most recent visit included the missile destroyer "Delhi", the anti-submarine frigate "Kirtan", and the fleet oiler "Shakti", which belongs to the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet.
So far, India and the Philippines have mainly conducted passing exercises (PASSEX), but last week, the Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, Jain, said that the exercises may expand into joint military exercises. According to PhilStar, Jain said: "Given that the maritime sector is vital to both our countries, we can expand cooperation, including joint exercises on maritime security and disaster response."
At the same time, it was reported that after purchasing the medium-range "Brahmos" supersonic cruise missiles from India, the Philippines is negotiating to purchase the short-range "Akash" surface-to-air missiles. Reuters previously reported that this deal is worth over $200 million. Another unresolved defense procurement by the Philippine Coast Guard - the Indian ALH maritime reconnaissance helicopter - has been under discussion since 2021.
As the defense and maritime relations between India and the Philippines continue to strengthen, it is expected that the bilateral relationship will be elevated to a strategic partnership level during Xiaoma Kesi's visit to India. Xiaoma Kesi will lead a high-level delegation consisting of at least 10 cabinet-level ministers, including the Finance Minister, the Defense Minister, and the Attorney General.
Xiaoma Kesi will meet with Indian Prime Minister Modi on August 5th, and then go to the southern Indian city of Bangalore for business talks from August 7th to 8th. Recent measures taken by India and the Philippines to enhance defense cooperation are closely related to China's actions in the Indo-Pacific region and the current status of their respective relations with China.
Indian Foreign Minister Sujan Singh visited Beijing this week. The Indian statement said that Sujan Singh "emphasized the positive impact of peace and tranquility in the border areas on the smooth development of bilateral relations."
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838093621763072/
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