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A POWERFUL DETERRENT

China’s growing naval might is forcing its

neighbours to invest in modern anti-ship missiles

By ARUN SIVASANKARAN

I n response to China’s increas- and Pyongyang’s aggressive rheto- the cruise missile.

ric and frequent testing of systems,
ingly aggressive postures in
the Asia-Pacific, its neighbours
rity and driving other countries to
in the region are eyeing anti-ship are undermining regional secu- In February this year, India’s
Cabinet Committee on Security
missiles to improve long-range improve their own long-range strike (CCS) approved a Rs 20,000 crore
strike capabilities and keep Chinese capabilities in response, albeit with deal for 200 BrahMos missiles for
warships at bay. widely differing levels of resources.” the Indian Navy, with a deal likely to
be signed this year. The induction

“Missile arsenals are BrahMos Makes Noise of the missiles, which can carry
warheads weighing up to 300 kg, is
growing at an expo- The latest development on this expected to substantially augment
front is the delivery of the first batch
nential rate in the of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship the service’s attack capabilities.
Asia-Pacific region, as cruise missiles from India to the The cruise missile can be launched
from a ship, aircraft, submarine, or
countries there attempt Philippines in April. The missiles, land-based launcher and has a top
which will be used by the Philippine
to alter or maintain the Marine Corps to build its Shore- speed of around Mach 2.8.
regional balance of Based Anti-Ship Missile (SBASM)
power,” system, were transported by an Japan Gets Ready
Indian Air Force C-17 transport
the International Institute for aircraft. It was in 2022 that the Earlier this year, Japan’s Ground
Strategic Studies said in its January US$374.96 million deal was signed, Self-Defense Forces deployed its
report. “China’s and North Korea’s making the Philippines the first first surface-to-ship missile unit
expanding ballistic- and cruise-mis- international customer for the mis- on the island of Okinawa; the unit
sile inventories, along with Beijing’s sile. The country has established an has been tasked with monitoring
increasingly assertive behaviour anti-ship missile battalion to operate Chinese warships sailing between

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