India Swings To Tame China's Masculinity in the South China Sea

India has swung its fern to tame China's masculinity in the South China Sea. The good times are over and the era of India remaining indifferent or mute spectator to Chinese aggression in the South China Sea is gone. India has been forced to shift gears and take a robust vocal stand as a result of Chinese policies.

INS Kadmatt in the South China Sea [Credit-ANI News]

Today, China is facing a different India than the previous one, which is not shying away publically from dispatching its naval assets to the South China Sea. China has repeatedly tried to counter Indian influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Now it is trying to undercut New Delhi in the Indian Ocean Region [IOR] which India considers its strategic backyard.

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A Bold Doctrinal Shift Underway In India Towards Chinese Masculinity:

India is now showing a visible shift in its approach towards Indo-Pacific policy. It could be argued that a doctrinal shift is underway. India is leading to effectively counter the dominion of China over the South China Sea. China illegally stakes complete dominion over it.

India, in a major policy shift, is stepping up strategic maritime cooperation with the host of Indo-Pacific nations. The Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan are being growing partnerships with India.

India and the Philippines sign Naval Exercise drills [Credit-The Diplomat]

Indian warship, INS Kadmatt, has arrived in Manila for a 'goodwill visit' after the ongoing Philippines-China naval standoff. The warship visit is a part of the ongoing Long Range Operational Deployment including the engagement of both Navies' personnel.

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Need To Tame China in the South China Sea:

China has been showing aggression time and again in the South China Sea. Recently Chinese ships attacked the Philippines's coast guard vessels. The INS Kadmatt will take part in a Maritime Partnership Exercise [MPX] in the west Philippines Sea.

The Indian embassy in Manila issued a statement that INS Kadmatt and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, an offshore patrol vessel of the Philippines Navy, will take part in the MPX exercise. India's envoy, Shambhu Kumaran, made New Delhi's intentions clear that India will continue to support Manila for the adherence to a rule-based order.

Indian Warship in engagement with Philippines Navy [Credit-Sputnik]

India entered the South China Sea first time in May 2019 alongside the US, Japanese, and Philippines navies. In August 2021, the Indian Navy held military exercises with the navies of many countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, and Indonesia.

The most significant show of engagement came in May 2023, when India for the first time sent warships to participate in a two-day joint exercise with the navies of seven ASEAN nations in the South China Sea. A month later, India joined hands with the Philippines to call on China to respect and adhere to international law and UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS]. 

The Maritime Partnership Exercise in the South China Sea at this juncture assumes great significance undertaken by India and the Philippines. It is a direct message from New Delhi to Beijing, that if China continues aggression and harassing smaller nations in the Indo-Pacific, India would not remain a mute spectator. 

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India Taming China's Masculinity:

The current MPX exercise between both countries is not an aberration. India in recent times has done a lot to up the ante against China. Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar openly called out China and said,

"Fragile security situation in the South China Sea......... growing instances of bullying of smaller navies........by Chinese Militia vessels........ danger to good order and discipline at sea."

This is a marked departure in Indian policy. Now India speaks about the Indo-Pacific and China's role in it.

India is now actively looking to sell high-end weapons to Indo-Pcific nations. As a matter of fact, the Philippines will soon receive the three anti-ship coast batteries with Brahmos missiles. Manila is the first country to have secured a deal in 2022 for India's Brahmos missiles.

China-Philippines tussle in the South China Sea [Credit-TOI]

Vietnam and Indonesia are also in talks to purchase the coveted supersonic cruise missile system. India is also engaging the Philippines in talks to sell the home-made fighter jet Tejas. Tejas would bolster Manila's air capabilities. India has also offered seven helicopters for rescue and relief work to the Philippines Coast Guard.

China is trying to ramp up its influence in the Indian Ocean Region [IOR]. With the election victory in Maldives, a pro-China government formed. Beijing has also been working on more than 200 small-scale projects to contain India in the IOR.

China must remember that its efforts to hurt Indian interest in the IOR could result in more such actions at the policy level as well. China must anchor a rule-based international order in the South China Sea. India will help out victims of Chinese aggression to safeguard their interests.

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