QUADRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE (QUAD)
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. The idea of Quad was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move ahead with Australia pulling out of it, apparently due to Chinese pressure. In December 2012, Shinzo Abe again floated the concept of Asia’s “Democratic Security Diamond” involving Australia, India, Japan and the US to safeguard the maritime commons from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. During the 2017 ASEAN Summit all four former members joined in negotiations to revive the quadrilateral alliance. With Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and President Donald Trump of the United States agreeing in Manila to revive the security pact among tensions in the South China Sea caused primarily by China and its territorial ambitions.
SECOND MINISTERIAL MEETING OF QUAD
Recently, it has been reported that the second Ministerial meeting of Quad countries will be held in Japan. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia with a shared objective to support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region that China seeks to threaten. The manner of China’s dismissal of the Arbitral Award in the dispute with the Philippines on the South China Sea, militarization of the islands in the region and individual conflicts with Quad countries have once again brought the four countries onto the same page and given a second chance to the Quad.
QUAD COUNTRIES AND CHINA
• USA had followed a policy to contain China’s increasing influence in East Asia. Therefore, USA sees the coalition as an opportunity to regain its influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The US has described China, along with Russia, as a strategic rival in its National Security Strategy, National Defence Strategy and the Pentagon’s report on Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• Australia is concerned about China's growing interest in its land, infrastructure and politics, and influence on its universities. Taking into account its overwhelming economic dependence on China for prosperity, Australia has continued its commitment to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China.
• Japan: In the last decade, Japan has expressed concerns related to China’s territorial transgression in the region. Trade volume with China remains the key lifeline to the Japanese economy, where net exports contributed exactly one-third of Japan's economic growth since the beginning of 2017. Therefore, considering its importance, Japan is balancing its economic needs and territorial concerns with China.
• India: In recent years, China’s violation of international norms, and its growing military and economic power, pose a strategic challenge to India. Considering China’s strategic importance, India is carefully balancing China on one hand and the US on the other, by remaining committed to strategic autonomy to China, which has generally proved reassuring to China. India has also not permitted Australia to participate in Malabar Trilateral Maritime exercises between India, US and Japan, concerned about what message it would send to China, which is wary of the exercise.
BENEFITS TO INDIA UNDER QUAD
While China already has an ongoing border standoff with India, it is also facing immense criticism from the world over its controversial Hong Kong national security law, which is being viewed as trampling of democracy. China has also been facing criticism over its alleged human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. China has also been accused of an alleged breach of internet privacy by India, the US and various other nations. China's attempt to alter the status quo at the India-China border in eastern Ladakh, violating all bilateral agreements and protocols, was also condemned by many countries across the world. China's increased military aggression in the South China Sea has also sounded an alarm for the nations located in the region. Besides this, US President Donald Trump had raised questions over the origin of COVID-19, blaming that it has originated in a Chinese lab in Wuhan. Trump has also referred to corona virus as the Chinese virus.
CHALLENGES TO THE QUAD NATIONS
• China’s Territorial Claims: China claims that it has historical ownership over nearly the entire region of South China Sea, which gives it the right to manufacture islands. However, the International Court of Arbitration rejected the claim in 2016.
• China’s Closeness to ASEAN: The ASEAN countries also have a well-knit relationship with China. The Regional Cooperation Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a recent example of China’s increasing influence over ASEAN nations.
• Economic Power of China: Considering the economic might of China and the dependence of Quad nations like Japan and Australia on China, the Quad nations cannot afford to have strained relations with it.
• Convergence among Quad Nations: The nations in the Quad grouping have different aspirations & aims at balancing their own interest. Therefore, coherence in the vision of Quad nation as a grouping is absent.
QUESTION (1-5)
Q.1 Quadrilateral Security Dialogue commonly known as QUAD is the strategic dialogue among which of the four nations?
A. India, UAE, Israel, USA
B. India, USA, Japan, South Korea
C. India, USA, Japan, Australia: ANSWER
D. India, Japan, South Korea, Australia
Q.2 The idea of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is first initiated by which of the following leaders and then supported by others?
A. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe: ANSWER
B. US Vice President Dick Cheney
C. Australian PM John Howard
D. Indian PM Manmohan Singh.
Q.3 The Second Ministerial meeting of the Quad Nations is going to be held at which of the following places?
A. New Delhi, India
B. Washington DC, USA
C. Sydney, Australia
D. Tokyo, Japan: ANSWER
Q.4 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the aims and objectives of the Quad Nations?
A. Ensuring a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.
B. To keep the Indo-Pacific region free from the influence of China.
C. To establish trade relations between the four countries.
D. All of the above: ANSWER
Q.5 Consider the following statements regarding the Chinese relationship with other Quad Nations and state that which of the following statements is/are wrong?
A. China has an ongoing border standoff with India.
B. Japan has supported the Chinese territorial transgression in the region: ANSWER
C. USA is regaining its influence in the Indo-Pacific region against China through Quad.
D. None of the above
