BrahMos presents credible deterrence, recognition of India’s defence change: Philippine Ambassador Ignacio

Anecdote highlights

The Philippines’ latest induction of BrahMos missiles has been hailed as a considerable vogue by Ambassador Josel Francisco Ignacio. In an unparalleled interview with WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Philippines Ambassador Ignacio described the acquisition as a “milestone” for the country’s defence modernisation, providing “credible deterrence”. The BrahMos missile, famed for its velocity and precision, used to be jointly developed by India’s Defence Review and Building Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. The $375 million deal, signed in 2022, marked a very considerable step forward for the Philippines finishing up its defence modernisation.

The ambassador further acknowledged the deepening ties between India and the Philippines, noting an “intensification that they’ve no longer seen before and that is extraordinarily welcome.” He expressed hope for elevated Indian tourist arrivals in his country and advocated for setting up a suppose flight connection. Regarding the continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, Ambassador Ignacio reaffirmed the Philippines’ dedication to its prison rights and entitlements in the gap, pointing out, “Philippines stands on agency prison ground as to what its entitlements are as to what its rights right by the West Philippine Sea.” China has aged water cannons against Philippine vessels in the gap, raising tensions.

Here’s the transcript of the elephantine interview:

WION: How stop you take a look at the India-Philippines relationship, essentially the fundamental capabilities and how it has been rising previously few years?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: This year is the 75th year of Philippines and India diplomatic family contributors, however our family contributors high-tail far aid, they are centuries extinct. Now we possess quite a lot of total capabilities, cultural family contributors, historical family contributors, and folk-to-folk family contributors, Indian communities possess had a presence in the Philippines for hundreds of years, however in extra unusual instances, now we possess seen these total capabilities evolve into quite a lot of assorted issues. Now, we possess a shared motive. We are each the leading and staunch democracies of Asia, India, the very top democracy in Asia and the Philippines, one among the older bastions of democracy, and fluctuate. We are the first Asian Republic, actually. Now we’re each advocates of the rule of thumb of laws, peace and safety and prosperity for all. These items converge together to form , the precise underpinning of , the roughly relationship we possess. We uncover that despite the undeniable truth that the relationship is now 75 years extinct, right by the final decade, we possess seen an intensification that they’ve no longer seen before and that is extraordinarily welcome. Coming here to India, I am elated to type of physique it as the relationship has long past on turbo, so all proper now, it’s miles not a gradual lengthen. It’s like a sudden spike. That is extraordinarily unprecedented welcome and that is the reason where we stand comely now. , we’re making an strive to lift the relationship, get it transferring across all ranges, and much must be performed however we’re elated where it’s miles comely now. We’re having a peek to be even busier, working on advancing and making growth and , change, politics, safety, defence, folk-to-folk culture, , we are going to get all these engines firing.

WION: We saw the talk over with of the Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. On that talk over with, India also came out in give a enhance to of Philippine sovereignty as effectively at a time when we possess seen elevated Chinese language aggressiveness along with your country. How stop you take a look at the talk over with and how stop you take a look at these feedback by the Indian facet, in your sovereignty at a extraordinarily considerable time?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Properly, to start with, talking purely right by the physique of India-Philippines family contributors, very unprecedented welcome. We are very happy that Dr Jaishankar, EAM visited the Philippines for the 2nd time in as a few years. And this in reality reveals the intensification that I used to be talking about, excessive-level visits coming, extra on a typical foundation. When I used to be in Manila, nearly 5 years ago, I used to be phase of the crew that labored on the talk over with of then president Kovind and, this talk over with by EAM sustains that top-level engagement. Final year, our secretary used to be here, and in between they’d meetings, along with in Kampala. We possess had phone calls between the leaders. So many excessive-level engagements, once more, reflecting the intensification of our family contributors. As far as , your varied are expecting is about EAM’s remarks about supporting Philippine sovereignty. I feel it couldn’t possess come at the next time. First, on tale of it comes, , we peep at it right by the context of India’s determined give a enhance to for the arbitral award in the arbitration case in the South China Sea. India’s determined situation of give a enhance to from June 2023. So that’s one context wherein we peep at it. Nonetheless the varied thing is, , it’s a very considerable recognition by the EAM Jaishankar of the Philippine agency in regards to its actions, in particular in the South China Sea. You’d hear some narratives, for event, that what’s going on in the waters in the South China Sea, for event, is a case of , competitors among powers wherein the varied littoral states are recommend as in the event that they are comely, , pawns, , in a elevated chessboard, which may perhaps no longer be farther than the truth. , the EAM’s acknowledgement of the Philippine sovereignty dovetails very clearly with what we had been emphasising as the Philippines that’s, we have certain our have, , pursuits we possess our have sovereignty to guard. We rob our actions, there who rob our positions there, on tale of our have territory, our have sovereign jurisdiction, sovereignty, sovereign rights in EEZ, are below menace, and we as an independent whine, as a sovereign country, , has their very have protection, we possess our have strategic calculus, and we act based mostly fully on that. And that assertion by the EAM, despite the undeniable truth that it’s miles a extraordinarily quick assertion, has all these manifold implications that , we in reality esteem.

WION: So I will come to the bit of the topic when it involves the South China Sea gash West Philippine Sea, however let me proceed with the India bit now. Safety and Defence had been essentially the fundamental pillars which possess once more seen a turbo, a sudden spike as you pointed out. Now, India has despatched BrahMos missiles and here’s something that it’s doubtless you’ll perhaps most certainly possess purchased from India, how stop you take a look at this acquisition by the Philippines from India going forward?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: I feel two issues now. Our defence relationship with India has repeatedly been there. In 2006, we signed a memorandum of settlement on defence cooperation that presents the framework that underpins , broader cooperation along many traces of defence, for event, practicing and training and exchanges, port calls by naval vessels. Nonetheless of gradual once more as a reflection of the intensification of the total family contributors. Our defence cooperation has also intensified, which is once more very welcome. The BrahMos is vital in the sense that it presents the Philippines credible deterrence, as , for us, , for the past a long time, we had been modernising our military and had been making an strive to form, , credible deterrence and BrahMos presents, it’s a very considerable originate to that ongoing mosey. It’s a very considerable factor of this ongoing mosey. So, the Brahmos acquisition is a milestone for the Philippines when it involves, , Armed Forces modernisation and defence, credible defence, however I’d also hand it to India. It’s miles on the total a recognition of India’s Defence Industry, defence capability, and its increasing, , defence footprint, to boot to its overall just of making an strive to be a responsible player in the arena neighborhood.

WION: Any plans to get extra defensive weapons along with BrahMos from India? I saw a latest chronicle that the Philippines conception to get helicopters from India for humanitarian capabilities.
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Properly, our defence modernisation proceeds in phases. We at the 2nd are getting into allotment three. And naturally, there may perhaps be a menu of issues that our military would prefer with a plot to precise in narrate to form this overall modernisation and defence situation that we’d prefer to originate. The having a peek list would be up to our Department of Defence, however without a doubt, I feel what’s considerable to declare at this point is that India being what it’s miles, , being in a position, industrial capability, the technology and I feel , the confirmed quality of the products, the defence products that it builds, is without a doubt one among the considerable markets, if I could perhaps per chance place it that approach. For trip most certainly the fundamental sources that we’re having a peek at and we’re very assured that , this roughly cooperation in defence equipment will simplest, , high-tail deeper and farther and expand unprecedented extra in the coming years.

WION: When it comes to defence, maritime safety can even be something that there has been cooperation. We currently saw the talk over with of an Indian wing guard ship which coincided with EAM’s talk over with as effectively. Now, India is sending warships to the South China Sea, no longer in particular to the Philippines. So how stop you take a look at the maritime cooperation going on between these two countries?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: India and the Philippines are each maritime countries. The maritime sphere is extraordinarily considerable to us, for the Philippines, in particular so , being an archipelagic country, , at the western border of the Pacific and then , the littoral states, the South China Sea, along considerable sea lanes of conversation. So, maritime cooperation with every accomplice and in particular with India, you take a look at something that we cost and we peep at it as something that we’d like to domesticate. The EAM’s talk over with coinciding with the talk over with of the Indian Waft Guard vessel, I feel exemplifies in very concrete systems, how our maritime pursuits in, for event, the soundless, stable Indo-Pacific, coincide and, that’s a extraordinarily precise I feel, symbolic manifestation of it. Nonetheless we would prefer to lengthen our engagement, Waft Guard to Waft Guard, and even Navy to Navy, to bring and increase our cooperation. There is the safety facet, however there are also varied equally considerable facets of maritime cooperation of the blue economic system being a very considerable priority now for a lot of countries, for event, the talk over with of the Waft Guard vessel of India, it’s about maritime air pollution grasp a watch on so as that’s a very considerable facet. There is, , fisheries conservation, IUU, so many so many angles, in so many areas, , right by the maritime sphere where we can cooperate.

WION: Condominium can even be every other situation where each countries can cooperate. Any plans to cooperate on that facet?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Properly, in my thought, I’ve been very attracted to home issues. I repeatedly regarded up to India at the same time as a youthful student when it involves home, enormous facets, enormous figures and numbers possess Indian names hooked up to them. Final year, I feel when we had the Joint Commission on bilateral cooperation, phase of the joint assertion in reality pertains to home cooperation, and each countries possess begun to peep into that. ISRO and our have Philippine home agency are having a peek into areas where we can deepen cooperation. Now, India has the technology. India has repeatedly been there, whether or no longer with start capabilities, or satellite capability, already confirmed. The Philippines is in the nascent stages, however the Nonetheless Uses of Outer Condominium, , of which there are many diverse sub-areas, we take a look at we ought with a plot to cooperate with, first in capability building, finally, on this situation, it’d be the Philippines having a peek to India, it’s doubtless you’ll perhaps most certainly possess bigger abilities. There is far away sensing for event, by job of satellite, which has capabilities no longer simplest in safety, it has capabilities when it involves the environment, climate change, fisheries, land suppose, air pollution grasp a watch on even possess their pain menace response. So home is, , an situation that will perhaps aloof no longer be location aside and I am elated that as the Philippines and India, we possess very, clearly place it on our agenda.

WION: On an extraordinary broader arena, which is the folk-to-folk relationship, why may perhaps per chance aloof Indians high-tail to the Philippines for tourism capabilities and for training capabilities, whenever it’s doubtless you’ll perhaps most certainly also define for us?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Geographically, ASEAN and India are neighbours, however whenever you occur to peep at it, in that geography, we’re the Philippines and India are on , the farther, , farthest limits, that roughly geography and I feel it’s about time that the Philippines and India learned every varied. When it comes to accurate visits, the Philippines has a lot to present to India, despite the undeniable truth that , the Philippines and India, despite the undeniable truth that we’re on the same latitude, I feel geography has blessed our countries in varied systems. I mean, India has its have cultural and pure wonders, which I am intriguing to verify, , whether or no longer or no longer it’s , inland or by the ocean by the shore, the Philippines as an archipelago. Needless to declare, it’s miles a distinctive roughly complexion, in particular since the seaside abilities would be varied.  I feel it’s about time Indians take a look at for themselves what the Philippines has to present. Now we possess 7000 Plus islands, , all of those possess their very have beaches. The Philippines has a rich history. So we possess quite a lot of heritage destinations as effectively. That I am particular Indians will esteem. Now we possess city destinations. Now we possess precise having a peek, we possess precise nightlife. Any talk over with to the Philippines wouldn’t be whole without exposing yourself to the meals, and track. So unprecedented to verify, however I repeatedly suppose that here’s reciprocal. We may perhaps per chance also desire our countrymen, Filipinos to return and talk over with India. So on tale of there are many issues also to verify and to esteem in India. So I feel there is a approach of mutual self-discovery for each countries that will in the shatter pressure nearer folk-to-folk family contributors, however in the shatter, overall family contributors. So in that sense, the motive is crucial an envoy, to stress restoring suppose flights, is on tale of that factors into the resolution of travellers. So suppose flights would be considerable, and they’d prefer to, most certainly promote every varied unprecedented extra when it involves conventions, meetings, weddings, and filming.

WION: Now we possess seen nearly day by day headlines as to what’s going on in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. Now we possess seen the usage of water cannons by the Chinese language forces against Filipino boats, which is something that has actually scared the arena. So if we can talk relating to the review, what is the topic? How unhealthy is the topic for no longer simplest the Indo-Pacific however for the arena?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Certain, I feel before we talk relating to the specific incidents, we would favor to interpret in the first event, what the placement where here’s going on in the West Philippine Sea. The placement of dispute has been clarified. It’s determined below the prison pointers, it has been clarified even further and definitively by the arbitral award of 2016. So, you’ll be in a position to must interpret at this early stage that , it’s miles not an equal dispute. If I could perhaps per chance suppose so, since the Philippines stands on agency prison ground as to what its entitlements are as to what its rights right by the West Philippine Sea, so you’ll be in a position to must place down that context , before we discuss, , what’s going on there. The Philippines is exercising its jurisdiction, and its rights over those waters, whether or no longer or no longer it’s territorial sea or whether or no longer or no longer it’s farther out right by the Philippine EEZ situation and continental shelf. So those are areas where the Philippines very clearly has prison authority even below world laws, to suppose those rights, those actions, however the varied get together makes it appear that we don’t, by striking forward its order which is legally baseless. No matter every little thing, this does no longer cease us from conducting our have humanitarian missions and present missions. And that is the reason where the tensions come up on tale of as I talked about, the varied get together tries to cease us supposedly, on enforcement grounds from finishing up these activities and that is where the encounters are going on and, , what we’re doing as the Philippines is, , as we proceed to declare our prison rights, I mean, diplomatically, we suppose all instruments readily available, soundless instruments, diplomatic instruments to get this across to the varied facet. , the arbitral award is closing and binding on each parties, and all each parties ought with a plot to conform with those rulings. What we’re elated with is that there may perhaps be a rising preference of countries that give a enhance to us, , on this regard, and that has even affirmed the arbitral award. More currently, we possess the G7 issuing a joint communication, also citing the arbitral award, finally, I will rob this likelihood to once more, thank the Executive of India for declaring that arbitral award. So that’s the underlying context within which those encounters are going on at sea. And, sadly, they are continuing however we can even no longer be deterred by , legally baseless, aggressive actions or after intimidation. And we can comely, , soldier on and , stop as is our comely to, , to suppose.

WION: Nonetheless stop you take a look at it continuing on tale of it’s comely no longer stopping? The aggressive actions proceed from the varied facet, that’s China. Compose you take a look at the aggressive actions continuing and what stop you intend to counter on tale of it’s miles going on nearly on a weekly foundation?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Properly, , our, our menu of actions, , we are attempting to suppose all of these, finally, above all, , we’re a peace-loving nation. So, above all, it’s, , we’re aiming for a soundless settlement, , these variations. So, there may perhaps be a soundless dispute settlement, however it must be underpinned, , by laws on tale of that equalises before world laws, all and sundry’s equal, no one is bigger, no one is smaller. , we’re equal, and I feel the laws is extraordinarily determined, in particular UNCLOS and then in particular once more the arbitral award, which has very unprecedented clarified obvious facets of UNCLOS. So, we also suppose the laws to reaffirm our situation. Nonetheless issues are ongoing. So, , we purchased every other level, there can even be a fight being waged in the theatre of public thought, , the varied facet says, , you provoke etcetera, etcetera. So, what we’re doing is to train the arena what’s in reality going on on the waters. So we possess this transparency campaign, ongoing, and that is the reason what you take a look at. What you take a look at in your monitors in your tv is de facto, , phase of the product of this transparency campaign whereby the media accompany, world or home accompany us and take a look at for themselves who’s telling the truth.

WION: Non-public you briefed the Indian facet relating to the incidents?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Properly, we’re repeatedly in contact, , with our Indian colleagues, whether or no longer or no longer it’s in Manila or here, and I feel each sides possess a determined appreciation of what’s going on. I feel the talk over with of the EAM and the statements that he has made, the statements that the Ministry of External Affairs has been making on the South China Sea, displays very unprecedented, the roughly standard dialogue that we possess bilaterally whether or no longer informal or by formal mechanisms to grasp up every varied abreast of what’s going on there.

WION: The new neighborhood on the block, that’s a squad. How stop you take a look at this neighborhood? Compose you suspect this neighborhood can and may perhaps per chance even be in a situation to counter the Chinese language aggressiveness?
Josel Francisco Ignacio: Because the Philippines, we possess our have international protection decisions based mostly fully on our pursuits. Now we possess our have agency to evaluate what is simplest for ourselves. And phase of that’s the partnerships that we possess. Now we possess as all and sundry is conscious of, we possess an alliance, a proper alliance with a Safety Treaty with the US. Now we possess a strategic accomplice in Australia, equal in Japan, and , these converge naturally, in particular on tale of these four countries are in the Indo-Pacific Condominium. Needless to declare, we talk relating to the elevated Indo-Pacific however, , in the sense that we’re Pacific countries, we also desire to home the imperatives in that situation, and it’s pure for these four countries to be working on areas of mutual pain. So I feel therein lies the crucial and the motive force in the aid of Squad. Now, the varied phase of the are expecting, we strongly think that these are no longer competing, Squad and Quad. They are each relevant to our shared just of getting a soundless, stable, prosperous Indo-Pacific. And I feel in the tip we can take a look at the complementarities of these what are coming to be referred to as as , type of triangles or mini-laterals or , smaller groupings, all are complimentary, as effectively for so long as the boundaries are like-minded possess a shared recognition of the challenges and most of all operate right by the same recognition of what is prison and what’s suggestions-based mostly fully.