QUAD
QUAD is an informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan, and Australia with the shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open, and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
Recent Development
- Experts have suggested inviting South Korea to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which would increase both the Quad’s membership and its influence, potentially serving as the basis of the U.S. administration’s strategy to check China’s maximalist ambitions in Asia.
Reasons for this suggestion in favor of South Korea
- Economic Giant: South Korea has 50 million people, and its economy is now G7 class, on par with Canada or Russia.
- A huge military base: It has 600,000 servicemen and women, and its military budget, at $US50 billion ($69.5 billion), will soon surpass that of Japan.
Significance/Need of QUAD
- Contain Assertive China: The Quad aims to contain a rising China and its “predatory” economic, strategic, and trade policies. Example: Recent Doklam Issue.
- China’s growing unilateralism: Fear of China’s growing unilateralism drives major nations to reduce the regional imbalance by banding together.
- Open Indo-Pacific: A free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region serves the long-term interests of all countries in the region and the world at large.
- Upholding Rules-based order: Ensures freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and promotes free and smooth global trade.
- North Korea: Cooperation to curtail North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and unlawful acts.
- Maintaining world order: QUAD is significant as a body to maintain a rules-based order founded on human rights and mutual respect.
Significance of the recently signed Defence Treaty “The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA)” between Australia and Japan for Asia and the Indo-Pacific
- Shift from US-centric to Bilateral agreements: Marks the move away from a US-centric outlook towards a greater focus on bilateral ties and regional groupings.
- Proactive role of Japan: A sign that Japan is willing to play a more proactive role in the region. For example, Tokyo is trying to seek RAA-like agreements with the UK and France as well.
- Opening of Alternative Routes: Provides middle powers like Japan, Australia, and India the ability to expand their cooperation and build on the momentum created by the Quad.
- Greater acceptance of Japan’s role as a strategic player in the region: Countries like Vietnam and the Philippines have started looking toward Japan for support against Beijing.
- Australia’s willingness to stand up to China: On the question of a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based global order, despite deep economic ties with China.
Challenges/Limitations/Concerns of QUAD
- Multiple regional rivalries: The involvement of players like the US and Japan has increased regional rivalries in the region.
- US-China rivalry: Strategic analysts argue that India is being drawn into the US-China rivalry.
- India’s stand: India objected to the Chinese naval presence in Sri Lanka. Now, India may also need to object to U.S. naval warships and Japanese presence there.
- Non-coherent Vision of QUAD: Coherence in the vision of Quad nations as a grouping is absent.
- Economic Interdependence: Quad nations like Japan and Australia have sound economic dependence on China and hence cannot afford strained relations with it.
How should India balance QUAD and its relations with China
- Bargaining tool: India can use the QUAD card to gain more advantages from China in economic integration and bilateral relations.
- Credible Criticism: India should avoid outright criticism of China in any forum.
- Independent agenda: India should not align entirely with the agenda of the US or Japan.
- Expansion: India should bring other countries into support on major issues affecting India, such as the Galwan Valley issue, and pressurize China to withdraw support from Pakistan’s terrorism.
Way Forward
- Formalisation: QUAD must establish dialogue processes and schedule annual summit-level talks.
- Diversify Agenda: The agenda to counter China may not suffice in the long run; the platform must also address regional and global issues like terrorism, climate change, and defense technology.
- Inclusivity: Collaborative partner nations should be included, at least as observers, in the talks.
- Vision Statement: A holistic vision document should be issued each year before a summit, highlighting the agenda.
- Space Technology: India, the US, and Japan have leading space agencies; collaboration in space technology can be an effective engagement for QUAD.
- Separate cooperation: India already has “2+2” ministerial dialogues with both Japan and Australia, expanding bilateral, trilateral, and regional cooperation in security.