After Quad, India to be part of 'Squad' to counter 'common enemy' China in Indo-Pacific

Squad members nations have conducted joint maritime activities in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea since last year.

India may soon be a part of military alliance with focus on security in the South China Sea. The grouping 'Squad', which comprises the United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines, aims to exchange intelligence and hold joint military exercises and operations to counter China's dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Despite being an informal multilateral grouping, Squad members nations have conducted joint maritime activities in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea since last year.

It is the Philippines which is keen on India joining the key alliance as the South-Asian nation believes China is a common enemy.

"Together with Japan and our partners we are trying to expand the squad to include India and probably South Korea. We find commonality with India because 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," Philippines' Armed Forces chief General Romeo S Brawner said.

He made the remarks at the Raisina Dialogue security forum in New Delhi even as Manila and Beijing continue to face escalating confrontations in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

China claims almost all of the strategic waterway - through which $3 trillion in commerce moves annually - disregarding sovereignty claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. A 2016 arbitration ruling invalidated China's expansive claim but Beijing does not recognise the decision.

Brawner said the Philippines was making efforts to enhance its deterrence capabilities, including by working with partners in the Squad on military aspects, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises and operations.

India is already a member of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) - an alliance of the US, Japan and Australia which keeps a check on China's dominance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' Armed Forces chief also said the South-Asian nation is looking at the possibility of procuring more missile systems from India. "We already have the BrahMos system and we are waiting for the delivery of more components. So far we are very happy and this is creating a very good deterrent effect in the South China scene," he told news agency PTI.