The BrahMos Belt: How China’s Neighbours Are Building Deterrence

China’s growing military and strategic presence across the Indo-Pacific is producing a more complex regional response. Countries that face Chinese pressure directly are increasingly strengthening their own military capabilities while diversifying their defence partnerships.

From the Philippines to Taiwan, and from BrahMos to broader strategic partnerships, what does this changing regional landscape mean for India and the Indo-Pacific?

This week on Defence Mantra, we speak to Nitin Gokhale on his recent visit to the Philippines and Taiwan, and examine this emerging security landscape through these two important vantage points.

The Philippines offers perhaps the clearest example of a country seeking to strengthen its ability to respond to pressure in the South China Sea. Manila has faced repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels, while simultaneously expanding defence relationships with the United States, Japan, Australia and India. Recent incidents have continued to highlight the tensions surrounding disputed waters.

India has emerged as an increasingly important defence partner for Manila. The delivery of the third and final shipment of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines in April 2026 marked another milestone in the relationship. India has since expanded its BrahMos export footprint, with deals involving Vietnam and Indonesia also moving forward.

This has led to growing discussion about a possible “BrahMos belt” across Southeast Asia — a network of countries acquiring an Indian-origin supersonic cruise missile system that could contribute to their maritime deterrence capabilities. The significance extends beyond the missile itself: defence exports are increasingly becoming instruments of strategic partnership for India.

The conversation then moves to Taiwan and the security environment across the Taiwan Strait. What does the situation on the ground reveal about the nature of Chinese pressure? How are countries adapting to grey-zone coercion? And what lessons does this hold for India, which faces China in a very different geographical and operational context?

At a broader level, the episode asks whether the Indo-Pacific is moving towards a more distributed security architecture — one based not only on traditional alliances, but on overlapping partnerships, defence cooperation and greater indigenous capabilities.