THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It appears that China, which is posing a threat to its neighbouring countries, will lose its sleep as the South East Asian countries (ASEAN) are gearing up to purchase India's BrahMos missile. Many countries in the ten-nation bloc, including those in the South China Sea where China is trying to dominate, are busy negotiating the BrahMos agreement with India. BrahMos missiles will be deployed under China's nose in these countries when the deals get completed in 2025.
BrahMos is a nuclear-capable missile that can be launched on land, sea and air. It can accurately strike a target which is 1500 km away. BrahMos is more powerful than China's state-of-the-art Changjian-20 (CJ-20) missile. China has been trying to beef up the Changjian 20 missile to outclass the BrahMos but has been unsuccessful. The purchase of BrahMos by ASEAN countries will be an alternative to the Chinese move to deploy the Changjian 20 in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Indian territory of Ladakh.
India is equipping Southeast Asian countries with the modernized version of the BrahMos, which costs $50 lakh (Rs 34 crore) per missile, by giving it at a low cost. Formed in 1967 as a commercial, trade and economic association, this is the first time ASEAN is conducting military and arms operations. For the first time in history, a joint military exercise is also scheduled to be held in the South China Sea in September. This is to counter China's threat. China is now a dialogue partner of ASEAN. However, China views ASEAN with suspicion as a threat that may surround it.
BrahMos agreements