The Manila envelope:

The Manila envelope:

Context

• India has decided to provide a financial assistance of $5,00,000 (Rs. 3.2 crore) to the Philippines to aid its fight against the Islamic State (IS) affiliated terror groups in the troubled Mindanao province.

Emerging Security Provider

• For the first time India is sending assistance to another nation to help it fight terrorism, thereby becoming an important marker as an emerging security provider to the wider Asian region.

Under the present government, India has taken a tough stand on Pakistan’s support for terrorism by underscoring its concerns at various international fora.

• In this context, India’s support to Manila shows a newfound sense of urgency in standing shoulder to shoulder with other victims of terror, even when the source of the problem is different.

The siege of Marawi

• The siege of Marawi, about 800 km south of the capital Manila, began in May with the Philippine security forces launching an attack to capture Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the IS-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group.
• Despite the military invasion, militants remain in control of Marawi which is viewed as key to their efforts to create an IS province.
• The civilian toll has been rising, with more than 500 people killed and nearly 4,00,000 civilians displaced.
• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has taken a hard line, vowing to “crush” the militants and declaring martial law over the entire southern Philippines. Yet, the end of the conflict is not in sight.

How is India helping Philippines?

• India has expressed its concerns at the situation and used this crisis to enhance its anti-terror and de-radicalization partnership with the Philippines.
• India is also conducting cybersecurity training for the Philippine security forces, focusing on de-radicalization.
• Providing the financial aid, India has emerged as the largest supporter in efforts to contain the crisis.

India – Philippines equation

• India’s engagement with the Philippines is also key to highlighting its growing role in Southeast Asia where China’s rise has already created serious challenges for the wider region.
• The regional security architecture is under strain as China’s divide-and-rule policy has made it difficult for regional states to put up a united front.
• Many states have suggested that India needs to play a larger role.
• As India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrate 25 years of their partnership this year, it is a politically opportune moment to upgrade India’s regional profile.
• The Philippines has also been trying to recalibrate its ties with China, under stress because of a suit brought by Manila to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague challenging Beijing’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea.
• Though Manila won the case last year, it has not been able to push Beijing to restrain its stance on the maritime dispute.
• Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte visited China last October and signed deals worth $24 billion in infrastructure investment and loan pledges.
• India cannot easily match China’s growing economic profile but it has other means to build partnership with a very important region in its foreign policy matrix.
• The recent outreach to Manila is an important step in that direction.