Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is an informal group focused on security dating back to the early 2000s. It has become more active in recent years as part of efforts to combat China’s reach and territorial disputes in the Indo-Pacific.
The war in Ukraine, North Korea’s weapons program, Taiwan, and the controversial new security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands in the Pacific are among the issues that are likely to be discussed at the summit.
Here’s what you need to know about quads:
How was it formed?
He said the two countries share strategic interests in common with “basic values” such as freedom and democracy.
Cleopascal, a senior non-resident fellow of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in the Indo-Pacific, said the initiative collapsed in 2008 under strong pressure from China and the threat of economic retaliation.
However, it revived in 2017 amid new concerns about China’s rapid rise as a global superpower and Beijing’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy.
At the time, senior U.S. officials emphasized that the quad was an “informal gathering,” but called it an “important and important form,” adding that “we are making adjustments every day.”
What does the quad do?
Sometimes referred to by critics as “Asia NATO,” Quad is not a formal military alliance, but an informal strategic forum featuring semi-regular summits, information exchange, and military exercises.
There is no military agreement as seen in NATO, like the concept of collective defense where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.
“Because it is deliberately more amorphous than that, it can withstand changes in political decision-making in each democracy, and is more diffuse but effective around things like vaccines and economics. You can do it that way, “Pascal said.
Military cooperation has increased in recent years, with Australia joining the other three in the 2020 Malabar Navy exercises. This is the first time all four members have participated in the training since 2007.
Last September, the United States, United Kingdom and Australia signed a security agreement called AUKUS, eventually bringing nuclear submarines into the region. This is a move that has caused a diplomatic fire with France and has offended China.
How is China working on this?
Quads are increasingly being seen as a counterweight to China’s expanding reach in the region, and over the past few years, all four countries have experienced turbulent relations with Beijing.
Relations between India and China have become increasingly tense since May 2020, when their troops were involved in a deadly clash along the conflicting Himalayan border.
Australia and China have been involved in a series of trades since Canberra demanded an independent investigation into the origin of Covid-19, but Japan and China are at odds over conflicting islands in the East China Sea.
Sino-US relations are also steadily deteriorating, with trade wars, pandemic pointing, and military saber rattling.
The strategic position of each quad nation in the various corners of the Indo-Pacific, with China in between, has rattled Beijing for fear of a possible military siege. It accused Brock of being an anti-Chinese “creek” that symbolized the idea of a “toxic” Cold War.
Exacerbating these tensions, China repeated its territorial claims and drew a tougher line in response to the perceived challenges. In recent years, China has established a military position in the South China Sea, despite dismissing its claim of sovereignty in the South China Sea. It also increased the threat to Taiwan, an autonomous island that the Chinese Communist Party considers to be part of its territory, even though it has never ruled, and sent fighters to the air defense identification zone.
“The rise of China is now a global phenomenon, not only in neighboring countries, but also in the security of maritime security to the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca, and the Indian Ocean,” said Keio University of Japan. Faculty of Policy Management of the University.
Still, some spectators say the deal could make Australia less secure and further destabilize the Solomon Islands, where close relations between the government and Beijing have already caused protests.
“Every country is increasingly aware that economic investment from China is designed to undermine the political will of those countries … it is more in China’s orbit. It brings strongly, “Pascal of the Defense Foundation said of democracy.
What are the other major issues?
Other issues that may emerge at the summit include Taiwan’s security.
The White House immediately downplayed the comments, saying it did not reflect changes in US policy.
“If Taiwan falls into China, it will break the first island chain and jeopardize Japan’s security,” Pascal said. “Taiwan’s collapse is a serious security threat to all four quad partners.”
India has long enjoyed friendly and defensive relations with Moscow. Most estimates suggest that more than 50% of India’s military equipment comes from Russia. Given the tensions on India’s borders with both China and Pakistan, these supplies are essential.
India’s position has caused “significant frustration” among the other three block members, but Zimbo also “reminds us that we can’t afford to lose India from the quad. Obviously, we I will pursue it. At this point, I can agree with India. “
Source: www.cnn.com
