bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Jeoffrey Maitem

The Philippines has stepped up efforts to expand the so-called “Squad” alliance to include India and South Korea, with military officials pushing for broader regional cooperation to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Analysts say expanding the Squad – an informal security partnership between the Philippines, the US, Japan, and Australia focused on military cooperation, intelligence-sharing and joint exercises – would improve surveillance and response capabilities. This would hinder Beijing’s operations in contested waters and increase the chances of a coordinated regional response to Chinese provocations.
Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr told a security forum in New Delhi on Wednesday that Manila was strengthening its deterrence capabilities by collaborating with partners in the Squad.
“Together with Japan and our partners we are trying to expand the Squad to include India and probably South Korea,” Brawner said at the Raisina Dialogue, which was attended by senior commanders from Squad member nations and India.
Brawner also stressed the shared challenges facing Manila and New Delhi. “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,” he told reporters.
The bloc is one of several regional partnerships that Washington has used to counter China’s assertiveness in Asia.
There is also the Quad composed of the US, Australia, India and Japan and Aukus, a defence pact between Australia, the UK and the US.

Recruitment drive
Arnaud Leveau, an assistant professor at Paris Dauphine University specialising in geopolitics, said it made sense the Philippines would try to recruit South Korea and India, due to their military strength and shared security concerns about China.
He said New Delhi, as a member of the Quad, had long-standing tensions with China, particularly due to border disputes in the Himalayas. It also maintained a strong naval presence in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific to counter China’s maritime influence, he added.
Leveau said South Korea, with its highly advanced military, had also expanded its role in regional security and already supplied military equipment to the Philippines.
“Given its dependence on maritime trade, Seoul has strategic concerns about securing critical supply chains. By including India and South Korea, the Squad would enhance military coordination, intelligence-sharing, and deterrence in the South China Sea,” Leveau added.
Vincent Kyle Parada, a former Philippine Navy defence analyst, said that India, one of the world’s largest economies and strongest militaries, was the only Asian continental power capable of effectively balancing against China in the Indo-Pacific.
The bottom line for [the] Squad is they recognise New Delhi and Seoul share the broader outlines of their vision for the Indo-Pacific
Vincent Kyle Parada, former Philippine Navy defence analyst
While South Korea was heavily reliant on China for trade and remained focused on the threat from North Korea, Parada said Seoul was a key ally for Washington in the region, hosting a significant US military presence near Beijing’s borders, which made it an ideal partner in any anti-China coalition.
“In any case, the bottom line for [the] Squad is that they recognise that both New Delhi and Seoul share the broader outlines of their vision for the Indo-Pacific,” Parada said. “That means cooler heads in the Taiwan Strait, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and a China that acts consistently in accordance with the rules-based international order.”
Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow with the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia programme, said that India and South Korea shared a security concern with the Philippines, so it made logical sense for Manila to approach them.

“India is facing more active Chinese navy operations in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, South Korea has a maritime territorial dispute with China but is also concerned that any conflict in the South China Sea will affect the stability of its Sea Lines of Communication,” Yaacob said.
Both India and South Korea have played a significant role in Manila’s military modernisation, supplying the country with military hardware, including Indian-made BrahMos anti-ship missiles and Korean-built frigates.
In the past, South Korea had repeatedly commented on tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.
Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea and has made aggressive moves to disrupt Philippine Navy and coastguard missions to assert their territorial rights over the disputed waters.
In March last year, Seoul publicly expressed its “grave concern” over China’s “repeated use of water cannons against the Philippine vessels” in the area.


Stronger together
Asked how the bloc and its expansion fit into Manila’s overall defence strategy, Leveau said the Philippines’ tactics revolved around deterrence, alliance-building, and military modernisation, with the Squad playing a crucial role in strengthening Manila’s security posture.
“The presence of US, Japanese and Australian naval forces in contested waters sends a clear signal to China that the Philippines is not alone in defending its sovereign rights,” he said. “Joint maritime patrols and military exercises reduce the likelihood of unilateral Chinese actions, such as coastguard blockades, artificial island expansion, or military intimidation.”
While the Philippines’ military still lags behind China’s naval and air force capabilities, the Squad, Leveau said it still “provides crucial support through access to advanced military technology, intelligence-sharing, and training programmes”.
At the same time, he said Manila benefited from real-time intelligence, including satellite surveillance and radar tracking from the US, Japan, and Australia, which allowed for more effective monitoring of the South China Sea.

“The Squad strengthens the Philippines’ position while avoiding complete reliance on the US, unlike formal alliances such as the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, the Squad remains informal, allowing the Philippines to deepen security ties without binding commitments,” Leveau said. “This flexibility helps the Philippines avoid diplomatic backlash from Asean neighbours while maintaining a strong deterrent against China.”
If the Squad expanded and solidified, Leveau said it could significantly shift the balance of power in the South China Sea.
“A larger Squad would complicate China’s ability to use grey zone tactics, such as deploying maritime militias and conducting coastguard harassment,” he said. “Stronger intelligence-sharing with India and South Korea would broaden the Squad’s surveillance and response capabilities, making Chinese military activities more difficult to conceal.”
Leveau said that while the bloc’s expansion might prompt China to increase tensions through naval deployments or economic pressure, its growth supported the Philippines’ goal of maintaining regional stability and upholding international law in the South China Sea.
“Of course, all these depend on whether India and South Korea would be willing to join in the first place,” Parada said. “India is already part of the Quad and does not really possess the capabilities to project force or maintain any meaningful presence outside the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, South Korea has never been one to actively push back against China, even as it steps up its efforts to contribute to regional security.”


Philippines aims to expand ‘Squad’ grouping by adding India, South Korea to counter China

Soldiers march during a military parade held to mark the 89th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in December 2024. Photo: AFP

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jnr said that Manila and New Delhi have a common enemy – China. Photo: AFP

The Philippines have bought Indian-made BrahMos missiles in an effort to modernise its military. Photo: AFP

The launching ceremony of BRP Miguel Malvar, the first of the two vessels the Philippines bought from South Korea in June 2024. Photo: Department of National Defense – Philippines

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Analysts say expanding the Squad would strengthen surveillance and response capabilities, making it harder for Beijing to operate unchallenged in contested waters


Analysts say expanding the Squad would strengthen surveillance and response capabilities, making it harder for Beijing to operate unchallenged in contested waters.
