New Delhi:
Quad ie India, America, Australia and Japan’s nexus is constantly strengthening its hold in the Indo-Pacific region, but India may soon consider being a part of another major multilateral alliance. This new alliance focuses on the South China Sea. The under consideration is ‘Squad’ – whose members currently include Japan, Australia, America and the Philippines. This group is now planning to invite India and South Korea to join it.

The Philippines and Japan are facing challenges with China’s growing military appearance in the South China Sea. Their goal is to combat Beijing and keep it under control. This was said by Romeo S. Browman, the head of the Philippines’s Armed Forces.

What is Squad?

Squad is still an informal group but its member countries have conducted several maritime activities in the South China Sea for more than a year. A multilateral conference in New Delhi – In Raisina Dialogue, General Bronner said, “We are trying to expand the team by including Japan and our partners by incorporating India and perhaps South Korea.”

Interestingly, the General’s comment on inviting India to ‘Squad’ came when his counterpart of Japan, head of the Indian Navy, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command and Australia’s Joint Operations Head were on the stage to discuss a panel discussion on security in Indo-Pacific.

The general brown further said that the Philippines is trying to increase its preventive capabilities, including working with partner countries in the squad. He said that squad has an informal support between four countries on military aspects, sharing intelligence and joint practice and operation.

The possibility of sending invitations to India and South Korea has come at a time when Manila and Beijing are facing increasing enmity and increasing conflict in the South China Sea.

China unilaterally claims almost the entire South China Sea, disregarding the international maritime law. Beijing considers the entire sea its own special economic, strategic and military sector. This claim has been rejected by the International Court of International and UN Court in 2016.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the summit, the general brown said, “We see equality with India because we have a common enemy. And I am not afraid to say that China is our common enemy. Therefore, it is important that we cooperate together, maybe exchange intelligence information.”

According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the General further said that the Philippines already have partnerships with the Indian military and defense industry.

He said that when he meets India’s Chief of Defense Staff or CDS General Anil Chauhan during the day, he would propose India to join ‘Squad’. After the meeting, a senior Indian defense personnel told the Reuters that there is no clarity yet whether the matter was actually discussed or not.

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