text: India is providing the Philippines with the Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missile system. The Brahmos is a joint Indian-Russian designed and produced missile system with a range of 290km and a top speed of Mach 3. A $375 million deal between India and the Philippines gives Manila a multi-platform anti-ship missile system capable of being deployed from shore-based launchers, ships, and fighter jets. The Philippines has been urgently building a minimum-deterrence capability since confrontations with China began over Philippine-claimed territory in the Spratly Island Chain. Last year China blocked a Philippine military resupply mission to its outpost at Second Thomas Shoals, an action that angered Manila and caused a diplomatic crisis between the two Pacific nations. While the Philippines is gaining a valuable military defense capability, India is the real big winner in this arms deal. India is boldly jumping into the geopolitical conflict in the South China Sea as a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) along with the U.S., Australia, and Japan. Anticipate that China will become more aggressive with both India and the Philippines in the coming months in order to counter what it sees as brewing challenges to its “nine-dash line” territorial claims in the Pacific.