The statement comes after General Romeo S. Brawner, military chief of the Philippines, said at a security forum in New Delhi last week that Squad nations were seeking to include India and South Korea in the grouping as part of broader efforts to counter China
Japan has expressed support for closer security cooperation with India and South Korea in the Indo-Pacific, days after the Philippines’ military chief suggested that a U.S.-backed security group was looking to include both nations to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
In a statement on Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Defense affirmed its backing for a multi-layered network of alliances but did not confirm whether it had agreed to or considered the expansion of the Squad—a security grouping comprising Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States.
“It is important to build networks among allies and like-minded countries organically and in a multi-layered manner, as well as to expand such networks and strengthen deterrence, as Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” the ministry stated.
It further emphasised the significance of regional partnerships, adding, “The ministry believes that close cooperation among regional partners, including Australia, the Philippines, as well as the Republic of Korea and India, is extremely important from the perspective of realising a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific,’ while the Japan-U.S. Alliance remains at its core.”
The statement comes after General Romeo S. Brawner, military chief of the Philippines, said at a security forum in New Delhi last week that Squad nations were seeking to include India and South Korea in the grouping as part of broader efforts to counter China. His remarks followed a series of maritime confrontations between Manila and Beijing in the disputed waters of the South China Sea over the past two years.
India’s defence ministry and South Korea’s embassy in India did not respond to requests for comment.
Christopher Elms, spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in India, told Reuters last week, “The United States will continue to work with all of our partners to continue to advance a more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Australia’s defence ministry also did not respond to requests for comment.
