QUAD grouping - An analysis

India and the Quad - an update

 QUAD grouping - An analysis

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• QUAD formation: The term "Quad" refers to the grouping of four countries - India, Japan, Australia, and the US. After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the four created an informal alliance to collaborate on disaster relief efforts. Then, in 2007, then PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, formalised the alliance as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. It did not move as expected. Later, in 2017, with the rising threat of China, the four countries revived the Quad broadening the objectives to establish a rules-based international order.
• Goals of Quad: There are some clear ones - (i) Maritime security recommitting to a shared vision for a free, open, resilient and inclusive Indo-Pacific region; (ii) Combating the Covid-19 crisis, especially vaccine diplomacy; (iii) Addressing the risks of climate change; (iv) Creating an ecosystem for investment in the region; and (v) Boosting technological innovation.
• Challenges: The Quad is not structured like a typical multilateral organisation and lacks a secretariat and any permanent decision-making body. Although exercises such as Malabar naval exercise are conducted, Quad does not include provisions for collective defence. China vehemently opposed the formation of Quad and has branded it an emerging “Asian NATO”. It blamed America for nurturing a cold war mentality.
• Quad and China: China’s belligerent actions in the South China Sea and its attempts to extend its sphere of influence through initiatives such as One Belt One Road Project (OBOR) are viewed as a threat by Quad members. America claims China is subverting the international rules-based order. Japan and Australia are concerned about China’s expanding presence in the South and East China Sea. In parallel, Australia passed foreign interference laws in 2018 which China responded to by restricting trade to Canberra. India is quite wary of Beijing’s push to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the 2020 LAC standoff, that affect India’s territorial integrity.
• The road ahead: Quad members have indicated willingness to expand the partnership through a so-called Quad Plus that would include South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam amongst others. Although the Quad is perceived to be anti-China, there is no direct reference to China or military security in any of the communications. Quad provides a geostrategic vision for India to balance China via global networking but its "neighbourhood first" policy should also work in parallel, to win confidence of neighbours.
• Recent developments: India and Australia held their first 2+2 ministerial dialogue in September 2021, and while discussing Afghanistan, rejected China’s criticism of Quad as an Asian Nato. Both rejected China’s description of the Quad with external Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying it was important to not misrepresent reality and that the Group is a platform for four countries to cooperate “for their benefit and for the benefit of the world”. Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said that Quad members were champions of ASEAN centrality, who actively engaged in the ASEAN architecture.
• Summary: In the years to come, the Quad may emerge as a balancing force for China's expansionist ambitions in the region.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain why the Quad may not emerge as a direct military challenge to China, in near future. (2) What interests of India are served well by being a member of the Quad grouping? Explain.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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