India Arms China's Neighbours With BrahMos: How Missile Exports Reshape The South China Sea Strategy

India's BrahMos missile exports are rapidly becoming a key element of its Indo-Pacific strategy. With the Philippines deploying BrahMos, Vietnam moving towards acquisition and Indonesia joining the list, Beijing faces a more complex security environment in the South China Sea. While the missile does not create a blockade, its speed, range and deployment across multiple countries could influence China's naval planning and regional military calculations. Beyond defence exports, BrahMos has emerged as a tool of strategic diplomacy, allowing India to strengthen partnerships across Southeast Asia without deploying its own forces. Here's why the BrahMos missile is attracting global attention.