‘India considers South China Sea as…’: MEA sets record straight amid Philippines president visit

India and the Philippines have struck their boldest partnership yet. Amid historic naval drills in the South China Sea, the two nations inked 14 landmark agreements boosting defense, trade, digital tech, space, law, and tourism. PM Modi hailed the 75-year-old bond as a “partnership by destiny,” while President Marcos hailed India as Manila’s fifth strategic partner. With the Preferential Trade Agreement in motion and both navies on patrol near China, can this “elevated strategic partnership” shake up the Indo-Pacific?