Is the Quad India’s Foreign Policy Dilemma?

Formation of the Quad

The Quad officially known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a grouping between the U.S, India, Australia, and Japan. It started off as an ad hoc grouping as a result of the Dec 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean to provide humanitarian and disaster assistance. Since then it has seen many ebbs and flow and transformed into a significant multilateral grouping in the Indo Pacific[1]. Subsequently, over the next few years the Japanese Prime Minister emphasized the importance of a dialogue between like-minded countries in the region, proposing an “Arc of Freedom and Prosperity”. The arc envisioned a network of states from Europe to Asia with Japan to promote the rule of law and freedom to use the global commons for shared prosperity and economic progress.

In 2007, Quad countries held their first official meeting. Japan laid great emphasis on the common identity of the four nations being great democracies and vibrant economies whereas India chose to highlight functional cooperation which would have no security implications.[2] Australia framed the Quad as grouping and not a formal alliance. The lack of purpose and clear objectives gave critics room to speculate. China called the Quad a NATO incarnate in Asia while some others called it a grouping of disparate nations with divergent strategic visions. In addition, after the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe resigned, the Quad lost its most vocal champion. Following this, Australia pulled out of the Quad in late 2007 due to concerns about China’s response to the grouping[3]. As a result of these events the group remained inactive for a decade.

However, a decade of more destabilization in the Indo-Pacific resulted in a growing convergence in the foreign policy of the Quad nations[4]. Australia which had quit the Quad respecting China’s sensitivities soon faced an onslaught of Chinese influence operations in its business, economy, education and politics. And the converging ideas of free and open order in the Indo-Pacific became the foundation for the quadrilateral dialogue. The four countries share concerns about the rise of authoritarian and revisionist China and the principles of Quad involve keeping strategic sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any military or political influence. The core objectives include establishing a rules-based global order, freedom of navigation and liberal trading systems. The leaders have exchanged views on other contemporary global issues such as climate change, education, health crises, terrorism, cyber security, regional economic and development assistance, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. The Quad has converged slowly and gradually in the global and multilateral issues of concern and continues to evolve with each passing meet[5]. However, it still suffers from lack of specific objective and purpose as seen from its divergent activities ranging from naval exercises to infrastructure development and economic cooperation.

US, Japan and Australia’s interests in the Quad

China wants to reorder the region in its favor and the U.S has been strengthening ties with its regional partners and allies, and Quad is one such multilateral mechanism. Therefore, the U.S is utilizing Quad to simply showcase a “unified resolve against China’s growing assertiveness” (Grossman, 2019) in the Indo-pacific without directly engaging with China[6]. In accordance with Shinzo Abe’s ‘Democratic Asian Security Diamond’ a free and open Indo-Pacific is essential. This is not just to preserve the principles and values of democracy, but it is also economically important for the U.S to keep important sea routes in the Indo-Pacific open.Therefore, it is in the US interest both ideologically and economically to maintain its presence in the Indo-Pacific at a time when China is challenging the status quo.

Japan depends on the sea routes for trade all over the world. In addition, Sino-Japanese relations are strained because of the history of imperialism, the dispute over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea that both sides claim and Japan Taiwan relations. Furthermore, Japan wants to provide Southeast Asian countries alternative sources of assistance[7] because China imposes economic conditionality[8].

For Australia, its Quad partnership with India, Japan and the United States is a key pillar in foreign policy. Australia is committed to the objectives of Quad and this partnership complements Australia’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific bilaterally and through regional institutions. Initially, Australia had pulled out of Quad respecting China’s sensitivities. This was because China used its economic relationship with Australia to gain political influence. At first, concerns about this were overridden by the business lobby in Australia since China was not only the largest trading partner but also the biggest source of investments in Australia, However, as such attempts by China became more aggressive and expanded to different sections of Australian society, the government's response became more firm. As a result of these events which took place over a decade, Australia decided to be more engaged in the Indo-Pacific, to ensure an open, stable and prosperous region, and subsequently became a member of the Quad[9].

How India views the Quad

India joined the Quad at its inception in the aftermath of the Dec 2004 Tsunami. India emphasizes that Quad is not a military alliance although she has participated in all military exercises over the years. However, India is deeply committed to other objectives on Quad’s agenda such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific. India is not using the Quad to openly oppose China despite their history of adversarial relationship and recent violent clashes due to border disputes. That notwithstanding, the Quad is evidently useful to India to covertly resist or stop China’s growing influence in the region. China does not only pose a threat to India’s security because of the border dispute but also through its policy of the string of pearls and Belt and Road Initiative. Under this initiative China has built and taken over strategic port facilities in India’s neighborhood. While Quad may not be projecting itself as a security alliance, the bi-lateral Malabar Naval Exercises between India and the U.S, Japan and Australia does cater for the security imperatives.

It is not in India’s interest to takepart in a narrative that portrays the Quad as being “anti-China or an Asian incarnate of NATO” because it is essential for India to maintain its strategic autonomy like it has done in the past. In addition, it is important to note that, in spite of the border dispute, China is India’s number one trading partner surpassing the U.S with a value of USD 135.98 bn in 2022 despite the chill in the relations[10]. An economic uncoupling despite the best Indian efforts cannot be achieved any time soon. China and India are also part of other important groupings like the BRICS and SCO. On the other hand, there have been instances recently that signal a change in India’s support of the One China Policy. One of such instances is the recent presence of former Chiefs of India’s three services in Taipei for the Ketagalan Forum’s 2023 Indo Pacific Security Dialogue[11]. In addition, opening of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Mumbai this year [12] along with such high profile participation in a security dialogue when tensions are at an alltime high between China and Taiwan signals a shift in India’s view on the issue.

India firmly supports a free and open Indo-Pacific and is embracing the advantages of Quad and cooperating in areas that suit it’s interests best while maintaining its strategic autonomy.

2023 Quad Summit

At this year's summit, the leaders issued a joint statement discussing five key decisions. Firstly, the Quad strongly condemns acts of terrorism; Secondly, it emphasizes the importance of respecting international law in international waters as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. There was also discussion on the militarization of disputed features and that such disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law without resorting to the use of force.

Thirdly, the summit supported Prime Minister Modi's statement that this was not an era of war, implying that the Quad would engage in dialogue and diplomacy without resorting to the use of force. The leaders noted the humanitarian consequences of the Ukraine conflict. In this regard, the leaders also condemned North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons, in violation of several United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Fourthly, the statement said that the Quad's work will remain in line with ASEAN principles and priorities, and support ASEAN centrality and unity. And finally, it was conveyed that Quad will continue cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners to meet the region’s infrastructure priorities with the aim of being sustainable and climate-resistant. Several initiatives in areas such as telecommunications, critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity and clean energy were also announced.

The Summit proved to be important in showcasing the seriousness of the Quad in pursuing the agenda for peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and the grouping has gained an important place on the world stage.

Conclusions

Quad is an important multilateral grouping that started in the aftermath of the Dec 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Over a period of time the agenda of Quad has widened from purely humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Today it includes a multitude of contemporary critical issues. It has also seemingly acquired quasi military undertones. While India understands Quads usefulness as a bulwark against China’s hegemonic designs in Indo Pacific and Asia that manifest through various means such as BRI, string of Pearls strategy and aggression on land as well as maritime borders, India also believes that of is not the era of wars. Peace and security in the region is the prerequisite to development and prosperity. China’s rapidly expanding naval capability and aggression in the Indo Pacific doesn’t augur well for the peaceful and harmonious rise of India. India is faced with a dilemma of either accepting the quad as a grouping purely for peace and development in the Indo pacific or accepting its expanded charter including the military undertones aimed at countering China’s rising hegemony and aggression in Asia. India’s foreign policy has traditionally abhorred joining military alliances as these impinge her sovereignty and strategic autonomy. India is on an accelerated path of development and economic progress; it certainly doesn’t want to be pulled down by loss of strategic autonomy due to a military contest created by joining a military alliance.

Should India’s ambivalence about the purpose of the Quad be construed as her foreign policy dilemma or deliberate ambiguity? Is India communicating subtle signals to China through the opening of another Taiwanese cultural and economic exchange centre and sending its former service chiefs to Taipei for security dialogue.Seems India is reconsidering its one China policy; seems the elephant is certainly turning albeit slowly.