Quad: Why Is It A Symbol for Indo-Pacific Unity

What is Quad?

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, also referred to as Quad, is a regional forum established by four countries: the United States of America, Japan, Australia and India.

Inception

Originally, the quad emerged as an informal, loose partnership after the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami owing to which the four countries came together to provide humanitarian and disaster assistance. However, it was formalised by the then-Chinese president Abe but turned ‘defunct’ for a decade or so pertaining to Australian concerns that the quad-partnership would come as an irritant to China.

The group was resurrected in 2017 due to changing attitude toward China’s strong regional influences. The then U.S. dispensation supported this partnership as a way of securing their ties with the Indo-Pacific region along with asserting over China’s expansionist actions. The quad leaders had their first formal summit in 2021.

Objectives of Quad

One of the primary objectives of the quad is maritime security, that is it aims to ensure all its members' security over their maritime affairs across the Indo-pacific region. Thus, it works for a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-pacific region.

Other objectives that the quad aims primarily to achieve are combating the covid-19 crisis, especially vis-à-vis vaccine diplomacy, disrupted supply chains and shattering public health infrastructure. Other objectives include tackling the global issue of climate change, creating an open and flexible ecosystem for investment in the region along with bringing about technological innovation.

It was believed that the strategic sea routes in the Indo-Pacific region needed to be free of any military or political dominance. To achieve this goal, the quad was formed to secure a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and a liberal trading system (a trading system that employs the principle of liberalism i.e. the right of a country to decide or establish trading ties with any country of the region freely and diplomatically). In addition to this, the coalition also provides for alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific.

Founder Members' Positions on the Quad Partnership

USA: The USA views this partnership primarily as a way to contain China’s increasing political or regional influence in the East Asia region. This coalition creates a leeway for the States to regain influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan: China has always acted as an impediment to the territorial concerns of Japan. Japan, as a nation is concerned with the Chinese transgression in the region. Trade volume with China is the key lifeline to the Japanese economy. Considering this, Japan is trying to maintain its economic ties and territorial concerns with the country.
India: India’s relations with China have always been hot and cold. Since the signing of the Panchsheel agreement, conflict over the Tibet region along with regions in the then state J&K and some north-eastern states, the ties between the two have pretty much decimated. Not to mention, the construction of military facilities on reclaimed islands in the south China Sea and its growing military and economic power pose a strategic challenge to India. India called the quad meet an extension of the ancient Indian philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which regards the whole world as a family.
Australia: Australia is concerned about China’s growing interest in its land, infrastructure and politics, and its influence on its universities. Australia believes that the quad grouping could be the harbinger of a new, permanent and powerful regional group of like-minded democracies.

Is Quad an Asian ‘Nato’?

Since the formation of the quad, China has opposed the partnership as it views this grouping of Indo-Pacific nations as a way to contain China. It has termed the four-member-led group as a “tool” to contain its rising power. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said “China believes that the Quad mechanism is only a tool to contain China. This is a deliberate move to stoke confrontation and undermines international solidarity and cooperation.”

Further, China also described it as an ‘ASIAN NATO’, the only difference being unlike the European alliance there’s no military pact here. In retaliation, the quad asserted that the group is meant to deepen economic, diplomatic and military ties among the four countries. Although the quad doesn’t explicitly establish it, those partnerships are meant to be a bulwark against Chinese aggression.

Highlights of the Recent Summit

The quad had its second in-person meeting in Tokyo. It highlighted the quad as a “force for good” with a positive agenda to make the Indo-Pacific more resilient in terms of the challenges faced. The leaders identified that what happened in Ukraine should not be allowed to happen in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad countries also recognized the important role of maritime domain awareness (MDA) in order to be able to respond to a number of challenges, including natural disasters and illegal fishing. The new Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) is useful in this regard, but its relevance to monitoring China’s naval activities is especially significant.

The leaders reaffirmed their opposition to “any coercive, provocative or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo and increase tensions in the area, such as the militarization of disputed features, the dangerous use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities.”

The Quad leaders also emphasized the importance of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) as the region is prone to disasters of high severity.

Conclusion

The quad working should lay down a clearer goal on the basis of the Indo-Pacific unity and shift its focus on the Chinese aggression a little less. The focal point of the issue must be increasing the ties among the region with lesser or no restrictions on the nations involved. To expand its reach, the quad coalition could form an alliance with the ASEAN to increase participation from the south-east Asian regions. Cultural and regional differences in the form of cross-border exchange of ideas, education and technological access would pave a path to fruition.

Written by - Udhai Rawat