US lines up ‘Squad’ featuring Australia, Japan and Philippines to counter China in Indo-Pacific

“We’ve gathered here because we share a vision for peace, stability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” Austin said during a joint press briefing in Hawaii with his three counterparts. “We’ve chartered an ambitious course to advance that vision together.”

The defence chiefs of the “Squad” met for the first time in June 2023 on the sidelines of the Shangri-La security dialogue in Singapore.

Speaking after the talks on Friday, Austin announced the four-country group would look at undertaking more maritime exercises, as well as providing greater security assistance to the Philippines.

Austin said the US had been clear to all nations, including China, that the recent behaviour in the South China Sea was “irresponsible” and “disregards international law.”

China views the US’s multilateral groupings as part of Washington’s attempts to contain China. A story in the state-run Global Times this week warned that the grouping risked “exacerbating regional risks”.

01:07

Philippines accuses Chinese coastguard of damaging its vessel in South China Sea

A US official who requested anonymity to discuss the “Squad” said the grouping aims to counter coercion and aggression across Asia, as well as to ensure that defence capabilities among their militaries are increasingly interoperable, allowing them to work more efficiently together in the event of conflict.

The official said the quadrilateral group aims to conduct more joint patrols in the coming months and years and that these patrols will add more capabilities over time.