Context: Recently, the US announced that the first in-person meeting of the Quad countries is going to be held in New York, US. The heads of all the four countries (India, Japan, Australia, and the US) are going to attend the meeting.

• At the meeting, the Quad leaders will focus on issues related to the Covid-19 crisis, climate change, cyberspace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

China Factor

• China initially opposed the formation of the Quad and in the 13 years since, Beijing’s position has not changed. 
• Beijing sees the existence of the Quad as part of a larger strategy to encircle China and has pressured countries like Bangladesh to avoid cooperating with the group.
• Each of the Quad members are threatened by China’s actions in the South China Sea and its attempts to extend its sphere of influence through initiatives such as the One Belt One Road Project.
• For Australia in particular, relations with Beijing are at a considerable low after Australia passed foreign interference laws in 2018 which China responded to by restricting trade to Canberra.

Formation of the QUAD

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is a strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India.
• It was formed after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 to collaborate on disaster relief efforts, which was formalised in 2007.
• In 2017, with the rising threat of China, Quad was revived broadening its objectives and creating a mechanism that aimed to slowly establish a rules-based international order.
• It has focused on expanding existing agreements between member countries and highlighting their shared values.
• QUAD conduct joint military exercises as a show of unity and diplomatic cohesion.
• In 2020, the trilateral India-US-Japan Malabar naval exercises including Australia was the first joint military exercises among the four countries.

Objectives of QUAD:

• Primary objectives of the QUAD are to secure rules-based global order, liberal trading system, maritime security, freedom of navigation and seeks to contain China.
• Willingness to expand the partnership through Quad Plus that would include South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam amongst others.

Importance of QUAD for India

India as a Net Security provider

• India must be a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region, its dominance in the IOR needs to be maintained and sustained.
• QUAD provides India a platform to enhance security through partnership in the region as well as emphasize that its idea of Indo-Pacific stands for a free, open, and inclusive region.

Countering China

• The Quad provides a platform to India to seek cooperation from countries on various issues such as ensuring respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes.
• It also demonstrates a united front to check the unceremonious activities of China against India.
• It is crucial in present times as relations between India and China have deteriorated due to border incursions along Tibet India border at more than one place.

Issues Related to Quad

• Undefined Vision: Despite the potential for cooperation, the Quad remains a mechanism without a defined strategic mission.
• The Quad is not structured like a typical multilateral organisation and lacks a secretariat and any permanent decision-making body.
• Additionally, unlike NATO, the Quad does not include provisions for collective defence, instead choosing to conduct joint military exercises as a show of unity and diplomatic cohesion.
• Maritime Grouping: The entire focus on the Indo-Pacific makes the Quad a maritime, rather than a land-based grouping, raising questions whether the cooperation extends to the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian regions.
• India’s Aversion of Alliance System: The fact that India is the only member that is averse to a treaty alliance system, has slowed down the progress of building a stronger Quadrilateral engagement.

Conclusion

• However, although the Quad is perceived to be anti-China, there is no direct reference to China or military security in either the joint statement or the Washington Post op-ed. 
• This in turn has led experts to speculate that the Quad will refrain from addressing the military threat posed by China and instead focus on its economic and technological influence. 
• The Quad’s decision to establish working groups on vaccine development and critical technologies can then be viewed as an attempt to constrain China but more importantly, to create a democratic, inclusive blueprint that will encourage other states to work with the Quad.