By Focus | 2025-03-25

The Philippines is seeking to expand the "Squad" alliance to include India and South Korea as part of an effort to strengthen regional security amid escalating tensions with China, say officials.

The Philippines is trying to expand the informal alliance, Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, chief of staff of the Philippine military, on March 19 said during a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue security forum in New Delhi.

The Squad, formed last May, comprises the United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines. Although informal, the grouping has conducted joint maritime patrols and military exercises in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.

Manila shares a "common enemy" with India, Brawner said during the forum.

"I'm not afraid to say that China is our common enemy. So, it's important that we collaborate together, maybe exchange intelligence," he said, according to Reuters.

During his visit, Brawner conferred with Indian Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan to explore India's participation in the alliance.

Both leaders reaffirmed commitment to deepening engagements, including joint training, capability enhancement and strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.

Growing confrontation

Brawner's call for an expanded alliance comes amid increased confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

Manila has repeatedly condemned China's "gray zone" tactics, including creating militarized artificial islands and employing maritime militia to assert territorial control.

During his remarks in New Delhi, Brawner referenced China's construction of three artificial islands equipped with air defense and missile systems, warning that "they will take full control of the South China Sea," according to India's Economic Times.

Meanwhile, Australian analysts at the Raisina Dialogue 2025 stated that Chinese naval drills near Australia's coast in February were a wake-up call and an "intimidating signal" for the country, highlighting the need for regional unity against Beijing's assertiveness, according to FirstPost.com.

"We need to ensure that future Chinese military activity in our region cannot be activated in ways that threaten us," Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at Australian National University, said.

This challenge marks the start of a "very long game" for regional security, he said.

Chinese forces in the Indo-Pacific continue to challenge regional security. Beijing's coast guard and maritime militia have frequently harassed Philippine vessels, including incidents involving water cannons and aggressive maneuvers.

The Squad's joint patrols and exercises have served as a critical deterrent to these actions.

The Squad expansion aligns with a broader trend of flexible security groupings aimed at countering China's regional influence.

Seoul-Beijing relations

This approach mirrors other collaborations such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) involving Australia, India, Japan and the United States, as well as the AUKUS partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

While India appears receptive to the idea, South Korea's involvement remains uncertain. Seoul's significant economic ties with Beijing may prompt caution, analysts have noted previously.

South Korea's strategic calculations often require balancing its alliance with the United States against stable relations with China, the Diplomat reported in March.

China is using the same strategy it employed in the South China Sea with South Korea. On February 26, China blocked South Korea's investigation of mobile steel structures in the disputed Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) of the Yellow Sea, leading to a coast guard standoff. South Korea eventually backed down without inspecting the structures.

The PMZ overlaps the EEZs of both countries, allowing joint fishing while prohibiting other activities. Concerns have arisen that China's installations may be an attempt to assert sovereignty.

China's gray zone strategy is to slowly force the target state to accept a new normal in the area.

"So, we are trying to create awareness around the world of what is happening, and we hope that nations would come together to condemn these actions of China," Brawner told Indian media NewsX while at the Raisina Dialogue security forum.

By seeking to involve India and South Korea, the Philippines aims to build a stronger coalition capable of reinforcing stability and deterring aggression in the South China Sea.

Whether these two nations formally join the Squad remains to be seen, but Manila's proactive stance underscores its determination to secure regional security through expanded partnerships.