The Philippines has stepped up efforts to expand the so-called “Squad” alliance to include India and South Korea, with military officials pushing for broader regional cooperation to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
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Analysts say expanding the Squad – an informal security partnership between the Philippines, the US, Japan, and Australia focused on military cooperation, intelligence-sharing and joint exercises – would improve surveillance and response capabilities. This would hinder Beijing’s operations in contested waters and increase the chances of a coordinated regional response to Chinese provocations.
Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr told a security forum in New Delhi on Wednesday that Manila was strengthening its deterrence capabilities by collaborating with partners in the Squad.
“Together with Japan and our partners we are trying to expand the Squad to include India and probably South Korea,” Brawner said at the Raisina Dialogue, which was attended by senior commanders from Squad member nations and India.
Brawner also stressed the shared challenges facing Manila and New Delhi. “We have a common enemy. And I’m not afraid to say that China is our common enemy. So, it’s important that we collaborate together, maybe exchange intelligence,” he told reporters.
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The bloc is one of several regional partnerships that Washington has used to counter China’s assertiveness in Asia.