After Quad, India May Be Part Of New Military Grouping In South China Sea
New Delhi: Even as the Quad steadily strengthens its hold across the Indo-Pacific region, India may soon consider being a part of another key multilateral alliance that focuses on the South China Sea. The group in question is the ‘Squad’ – whose members currently include Japan, Australia, the US, and the Philippines. The group now plans to invite India and South Korea to join it. Philippines and Japan, which face challenges with China’s growing military presence in the South China Sea, aim to counter Beijing and keep it in check, said General Romeo S. Brawner, the Philippines’ Armed Forces chief. Though Squad is still an informal grouping, member states have conducted joint maritime activities in South China Sea for over a year. “Together with Japan and our partners we are trying to expand the squad to include India and probably South Korea,” General Brawner said at the Raisina Dialogue – a multilateral conference in New Delhi. Interestingly, the General’s comment on inviting India to the ‘Squad’, came as his counterpart from Japan, the chief of …
