The five-day visit follows the Philippines' acquisition of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system -- the first such export by New Delhi -- with deliveries beginning in April under a $375 million deal signed in 2022.

The visit comes as Indian Navy warships take part in patrols of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time.

Talks between Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected Tuesday with a focus on expanding maritime security coordination and intelligence-sharing.

The Philippines has heightened defence cooperation with a range of allies over the past year after a series of clashes in the contested waterway.

"Our unwavering commitment to regional peace and cooperation serve as a credible foundation of our active and growing maritime cooperation," Marcos said before his departure from Manila.

Marcos said that both countries share a "geostrategic position as coastal states that border the busiest international trade routes".

India is a member of the Quad group, which includes fellow democracies the United States, Japan and Australia.

Beijing has repeatedly alleged that the four-way partnership, first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, was created as a way of containing China.

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