Japan has said that it backed close security cooperation with South Korea and India in the Indo-Pacific, days after the Philippines' military chief said a U.S.-backed security group wanted both nations to join to counter China in the region.
Japan's Ministry of Defense said in a statement to Reuters on Monday that it supported building a multi-layered network of alliances in general, and but declined to say whether it has given its consent or made any specific considerations on the expansion of the Squad group.
The Squad is an informal multilateral grouping made up of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, focused on defense cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint military exercises and operations.
"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," Japan's Ministry of Defense said.
It added that 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 realizing a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific', while the Japan-U.S. Alliance remains at its core."
General Romeo S. Brawner, military chief of the Philippines, said at a security forum in New Delhi last week that Squad nations were trying to include India and South Korea in the grouping to counter China. His remarks followed a series of escalating confrontations between Manila and Beijing over the past couple of years in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
India's defense ministry and South Korea's embassy in India did not respond to a request for comment.
Christopher Elms, the spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy in India, told Reuters last week that, "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 defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
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isabelle
India is a good partner for Japan, but South Korea sadly isn't, as its foreign policy (and particularly its Japan policy) swings wildly depending on the party of government.
Relations have been excellent under Yoon (leaving aside his huge, domestic missteps), but if the DPK gets in -- and particularly if Lee Jae-myung manages to stay out of jail -- South Korea will be untrustworthy for the duration of its tenure, just like it was when Moon was president.
Japan can, and should, still work with South Korea, but it cannot rely on it until the DPK/PPP policy swings stop.
EvilBuddha
India is a good partner for Japan
The US liberals think otherwise. Well their rants don't really matter anyway now that their favorite Asian ally has reconfirmed that India is important.
Just don't keep on bringing up India's close ties with Russia. That's a reality that will never change and the US foreign policy is responsible for it.
isabelle
That entirely depends on which "liberal" you ask.
They're not all the same, just as all "conservatives" aren't the same.
Peter14
The core has always been America. America has been the light the others flock to like moths to a light bulb. To each nation the core alliance is their own nation and America. Japan thinks that way, Australia thinks that way and South Korea thinks that way.
Now under Trump, America is going dark and moving itself closer to Russia and itself becoming a nation ruled by an autocrat who may yet find a way to rig future elections or target popular opposition figures as Russia does.
This moves the core away from America, or it will in the future under Trump, leaving nations like Japan, South Korea, Australia to rely on themselves and what ever alliances they can establish regionally to enhance their security going forward.
If Japan can arrange an alliance with a few regional partners like India, South Korea and Australia, then it will not find itself alone should America "turn on a dime" and choose to disengage with the region as a whole. Trump being the unstable old man he is could do anything at this point, and MAGA followers would follow him down the drain if thats where hes going.
deanzaZZR
You are talking a formal treaty alliance with that involved South Korea and India? Good luck with that. India doesn't do alliances and Korea has been parked next to China for 2,000+ years and hopefully will be there for the next 2,000 years living in peace.
Meanwhile Sydney, Australia is 8,000 kilometers distant from Tokyo. The Australian Royal Navy consists 27 commissioned ships and 16,000 sailors.
HopeSpringsEternal
Makes sense, DJT pushing all countries to step up their defense spending, especially in Asia, as Peace thru Strength is the best policy = requires serious $investment!
Peter14
Meanwhile Darwin to Tokyo is 5,429 km.
Our navy is in the process of doubling in size for the number of combat vessels which will include SSN's, and we have 108 modern combat aircraft and have begun manufacturing missiles with more various missile types to be made in Australia, along with the manufacture of 155mm Artillery rounds including extended range munitions, AS9 Huntsman SPG's, Redback IFV's, Boxer CRV's, Bushmasters, Hawkei's and force multiplying AI MQ-28 drones, frigates, world leading OTHR radars, Ghost Shark XL-AUV and many more things of value.
We are used to being overlooked and looked down upon, but when ever called to action we can more than match it man for man with any force in the world.
deanzaZZR
@Petere14 You talk a good game and many like Australians, myself included. My dear niece married one.
6,000 kilometers means you are not part of Asia. Without the Americans you guys can't do squat.
isabelle
No, no-one is talking about a formal treaty alliance.
No, but it does things like the Quad. The Squad is similar.
I'm sure South Korea does want to live in peace.
But China's (and North Korea's, and Russia's) rhetoric and actions strongly suggest it doesn't want to live in peace... unless it's a "peace" where the CCP can do whatever it wants with impunity.
Your beloved China is precisely why other countries want these security arrangements.
Peter14
Really? We are often referred to as Australasia, we are in the Asian Football Confederation and are considered "regional partners".
Australia can most certainly do things without America. Australia headed the UN mission in East Timor and were so successful that America spent more time debriefing the force commander than Australia did, because the US wanted to know how we managed to be successful without them. Australia headed a multinational force and it is one of the UN's few success stories in such endeavors. Same with helping the Solomon islands when they had internal "strife".
Australia's navy can work in conjunction with other forces like UK carrier task force, in any ocean or sea around the globe. Been doing that since WWI, during WWII and can still do so now.
As for operating in "regional waters" including the SCS, we have no problems what so ever.
I do hope China has the same low opinion of Australian abilities, it will come as more of a shock if any unfortunate conflict was to arise with a partner of Australia and we are called upon for assistance. Nazi Germany was shocked, Italian troops were shocked as were Japanese troops when facing Australians for the first time in war. That happens when you dont expect much from us.
OssanAmerica
If you knew anything about Korean history you'd know that they certainly didn't spend 2000 years in peace. China (Qing Dynasty) invaded Korea in 1627 and 1636 invaded and forced Joseon into tributary status. It took Japan to defeat China (Qing Dynasty) in 1895 and force them to recognize Korean sovereignty.
Korea would have had peace after WWII if the USSR and China (PRC) hadn't backed North Korea. And China sending 2.9 million troops 1950-1953 to kill South Korean and UN troops from 21 countries.
Samit Basu
@isabelle
Lee Jae Myung was cleared of Yoon prosecution office's BS charges in appeals trial. He's cleared of any disqualification threats for the next 15 months.
The conservatives are desperately praying for a miracle, that Yoon on too is cleared of his impeachment trial because if a new presidential election is held today, Lee would win by a margin of 30 points at the least.
Anyhow, stopping Democratic Party/PPP policy swing rests with Japan, not Korea. Japan has to take appropriate actions to make it happen, like embracing Japan's wartime history to the fullest extend, apologizing and compensating to comfort women and forced laborers, etc.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/26/south-korea-opposition-inches-closer-to-presidency-after-legal-win.html
deanzaZZR
Thanks for the history lesson, @OssanAmerica. I never claimed Sino-Korean relations were always peaceful. Neighbors squabble. My main point is that South Korea is not going to rush into any GI Joe led military operation knowing that once the USA military withdraws from the area China remains.
China is never going to allow US forces on its border. Had the USA led UN "Police Action" stopped at the 38th parallel there would have been peace and much bloodshed would have been avoided.
deanzaZZR
@Samit Basu Excellent news. Hopefully Yoon gets the boot leading to a new government with a much more balanced foreign policy which will ratchet down tensions in the area.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Considering some Mao approved loser was launching invasions from north of there, there was no reason for the UN to stop.
deanzaZZR
Translating from trollish, Kim Il-sung. Mao had no control over Kim. The last thing the newly established PRC wanted following decades of civil war and foreign invasion was a war.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Right, the guy with millions of troops next door to Kimmy was unable to stop him. I'm sure some 50-centers out there push this line.
deanzaZZR
The USA has a well established public library system. I suggest you give your local branch a try.
deanzaZZR
Not abilities, numbers (27). The context here is China, not East Timor. Good luck "containing China" without the USA Navy with the help of the Japanese. ROK isn't going to joining such silliness.
OssanAmerica
South Korea has been allied with the United States since founding, and is constantly aware that China and North Korea are as close as "lips and teeth".