3rd Quad ministers meeting concluded recently

In News: India for the first time used the word ‘Quad’, signalling closer alignment with the 3 other nations.

More about the third meeting of QUAD Foreign Ministers held on 18th Feb 2021

• The Ministry of External Affairs has released ‘3rd India-Australia-Japan-USA Quad Ministerial Meeting’.
• All 4 nations reiterated their common vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and extended their support for
  • Rules-based international order
  • Respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty
  • Freedom of navigation
  • Peaceful resolution of disputes
  • ASEAN cohesion and centrality in Indo-Pacific.
• Multiple Issues were also discussed by all 4 members.
  • Recent developments in Myanmar: Need for Democratic Transition and Rule of Law was highlighted by India.
  • The coronavirus pandemic: All four members committed to
    • Cooperate in addressing Pandemic related challenges.
    • Enhance access to affordable vaccines, medicines and medical equipment.
    • India’s efforts at providing vaccines to 74 countries were also appreciated.
  • Climate change
  • Cooperation in areas such as maritime security, supply chain resilience and counter-terrorism

About QUAD:

• It is also known as Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD).
• QUAD is an informal group of India, US, Japan and Australia.
• It is a strategic dialogue with the objective to ensure a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo Pacific.
• The idea was first mooted by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in 2007.
  • Although the genesis may be traced back to 2004 Tsunami relief and rescue missions where all four came together.

• Shared values between the nations are:
  • Political democracies
  • Market economies
  • Pluralistic societies
• Backdrop
  • Rising Chinese Influence and Assertion in Indo-Pacific
  • Chinese unilateral claim over Nine-Dash Line and ignorance of International Court of Arbitration Verdict
  • India China Standoff
  • Iron fist handling of Hongkong Protests
  • Imperialistic attitude toward Taiwan.
• Foreign ministers of the four countries held their first meeting under the ‘Quad’ framework in New York in September 2019.
• In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.
• Timeline:
  • 2007: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe mooted the idea of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
    • Could not materialise due to the reluctance of Australia
  • December 2012: Shinzo Abe again initiated a concept of Asia’s Democratic Security Diamond, involving Australia, India, Japan and the US.
    • The aim was to safeguard the maritime commons from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.
  • November 2017: QUAD Coalition was finally given present day form with active participation of India, US, Australia and Japan.
    • The aim was to keep critical sea routes open and free for navigation in Indo-Pacific.

Importance of QUAD for Indi

• Countering Chinese Influence: Recent stand-offs on Indo-China Border and reluctance of Russia to step in and build pressure is forcing India to look for alternatives.
• Post COVID Diplomacy: The disruption across the world and non transparent systems of China pose an opportunity for India to take lead and become the World’s Manufacturing Hub.
  • India can leverage its expertise in the vaccine and pharma industry to increase its soft power.
  • Further, Japan and the US want to shift their manufacturing companies out of China in order to curb its imperialistic behaviour.
• Net Security Provider in Indian Ocean: India under the SAGAR initiative wants to become a net security provider in Indian Ocean.
  • QUAD cooperation may give India access to multiple strategic locations for creating Naval bases.
• Multipolar World: India has supported rule based multipolar world and QUAD can help it in achieving its ambition of becoming regional super power.

Challenges before QUAD

• Formal opposition by China: China has formally intimated its displeasure over the QUAD meetings.
  • It is being termed as Asian NATO.
• Trade and Supply Chains: As seen recently, China is trying to leverage its position in Trade and Commerce to arm-twist other nations especially China and Japan.
  • Recently, MV Anastasia, an Australian coal-carrying ship was stranded for more than a month on the Chinese Coast. Even Indian Sailors got trapped in that.
  • China threatened to stop the supply of rare earth metals to the Japanese electronic industry.
  • Corona pandemic disrupted the Global supply chain due to lockdown in China.
• Chinese Closeness to ASEAN: With the signing of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), ASEAN and China have come further close.
• Cheque Book Diplomacy of China: The One Belt One Road Initiative, Maritime Silk Route, Unsustainable Debt and Project Fundings, etc are being deployed by China to attract small nations.
• Different Aspirations of QUAD Nations: QUAD’s coherence may suffer due to
  • India’s bid to balance QUAD and RIC (Russia, India and China),
  • The reluctance shown by Australia for QUAD in past,
  • Japan and the US are seeking their own economic interests with China.
  • Also there is a lack of coherence on the definition of Indo-Pacific.

Way Forward

• Strengthening Blue Dot Network: All four countries must pool their resources to check the Economic might of China, rather than just letting it function as a certification agency for infrastructure projects.
• Coherent strategy: All the member countries must develop a unified approach to tackle China rather than act in Individual interests.
• Formalise the talks: The formalisation may help to give QUAD a more structured format.
• QUAD can be an effective tool to counter Chinese adventure and imperialism ambitions in Indo-Pacific.

Source: IE