Belligerence against the Dragon: Quad Nations strategy on growing Chinese Influence

Post pandemic events have made the Chinese State more cautious than ever by being more vigilant of its assets in the region. However, recent reports show Chinese electronic surveillance aircrafts flying in the area where US and Japanese forces were conducting bilateral joint naval exercises in South China Sea. China has long been involved in unsolicited activities since decades. Its proliferation and undercover strategies have made its neighbours and other powers more vigilant of its next conquest.

The Indo-Pacific region has recently been an area of contestation among major regions of the world. It is particularly important to Japan, Australia, US, India, ASEAN members and particularly China. This region is of significance due to its global trade and supply of energy with over two-thirds of the world trade that passes through this area and in specific to counter Chinese growth. Though China recognizes this collaboration as an ‘Anti-China’ pact to transform the hegemonic power struggle in the South-East Asia and specifically in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad short for ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ is one its kind, formed in 2007 by the Japanese President Shinzo Abe. His ‘Confluence of the two Seas’ speech laid the foundation of this grouping. He sought to formulate and hold several exercises through dialogues that could reshape alliances as well as partnerships that could respond to China’s rise. Modi and Abe have had several talks on the ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’ which reflects the interests of US as well. During the Obama administration, US corresponded to this dialogue as a broadening policy of ‘Asia-Pacific Rebalancing Strategy’. However, the Quad was dissolved in early 2008 following the Rudd Government elections and felt it did not suit its strategic outlook by going against China. Although ten years and a transition of governments have particularly raised concerns about Chinese intervention and changed relations amongst major stakeholders about the importance of Quad 2.0.

This partnership remains one of the most critical power pacts with nations like Japan being endangered in the region by rising concerns of Chinese economic and military capabilities. The East China Sea is its only source of trade and a medium for exchange of resources which is in peril by Chinese intervention. India wants to be an attentive partner in the South East Asian politics and become an undeniable member in international relations. Blunting China’s role has been the most important strategy of US and in collaboration with Australia, it could enhance US-Australia trade relations and give Australia an unabated influence in the South East Asian relations. Countries like Indonesia and Singapore are supporters of this dialogue, however, most of the South East Asian countries are sceptical of the vague stance of US within the region considering the costs that it may reduce its share of facilitating heavy military force as most of its forces are deployed in the Middle East and due to its presence there, the Asian countries fear going against China.

The Quad ensures and has a goal of forming a informal military alliance which is similar to NATO while China believes it as vexing and divisive in nature. Secondly, it is a formation that acts against Chinese regional hegemony and serves in the national interest of the quad nations. As America initiated a ‘Pivot to Asia’ to ‘Asia Reassurance Initiative Act’, these policies work on a long-term strategic vision which is inclusive and focused on US policy towards the Indo-Pacific region while investing to counter Chinese economic plans. The Trilateral Malabar Naval Exercises which involve JAI (Japan, America and India) is a permanent partnership of these nations to strengthen defence ties formed in 1992. With recent Chinese aggression in Ladakh, South China Sea and Strait of Taiwan, this partnership will act as a principal force against China.

Lately with China developing a blue water navy called the ‘PLAN’ (People’s Liberation Army Navy), it has asserted an inexorable maritime superiority in the South China Sea, China also seems to be making big strides in achieving its economic plans like the BRI which is a multimillion dollar project under progress. The string of Pearls has already benefited China with its potential interest in the Indian Ocean Region while creating a network of SLOCs (Sea Lines of Communications) that stretch from the Chinese mainland to one of its chief ports - The Port of Sudan that lies in the Horn of Africa. Therefore, while one talks about the Chinese strategic ability being transpired in world politics, no one can be sure of what the communist regime has kept in its loop. With claims reporting the Wuhan virus to be a bio warfare, it is highly important to attenuate Chinese capabilities within the region and the world at large. The geopolitical and economic rivalry that these quad nations share against China will not only expand this multilateral dialogue but will work in the best interest of achieving more comprehensive objectives. It will garner support in areas like defence, infrastructure, Indo-Pacific, development and joint operations in the future.

Pic Courtesy-Indian Navy @indiannavy.nic.in

(The views expressed are personal)