On the Quad, Define the Idea, Chart a Path

Context: A positive regional agenda built around collective action by the Quad members is the need to the hour.

Evolution of the Quad: 

• Quad 1.0: 

• First mooted by the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in 2007, the Quad (the United States, Japan, India, and Australia) was initially not against China. 
• The United States (U.S.) was still enjoying its unipolar powers status.
• The U.S. believed in persuading China to become a responsible stakeholder and required its goodwill on nuclear issues with North Korea and Iran and the War on Terror.
• Japan and Australia were riding the China Boom to prosperity.
• India was ambivalent because it mirrored the uncertainties of others.
• China’s Hyperreaction: labelled Quad as Asian version of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• It was out of concern that such a grouping would “out” China’s plans for naval expansion
• Fading idea of Quad 1.0: provided opportunities for China to reveal its hand.
• China advanced a new claim: Nine-Dash Line in the South China Sea and undertook rapid warship building activity. (reminiscent of Wilhelmine Germany before 1914)
• Built its ?rst overseas base in Djibouti.
• Started to explore the surface and subsurface regions in the Indian Ocean beyond the Malacca Straits coordinated by a Central Leading Small Group for Protecting Maritime Rights and Interests, established in 2012.
• Dismissed the Arbitral Award in the dispute with the Philippines on the South China Sea and a brazen militarization of the islands.

Arguments in support and necessity of the resurgent Quad:

• A plurilateral mechanism rather than containment policy: An alliance of countries sharing common interests on specific matters. There are many other mechanisms present worldwide. For E.g.
• In 2016, China itself established a Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan 
• China has also created a similar grouping this year, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal.
• Changed Scenarios: The Four countries are navigating through more turbulent waters.
• Impact of a pandemic: taking a toll on growth and prosperity.
• Adversarial Phase of the relationship between the two major Pacific powers, i.e. U.S. and China.

Way Forward: 

• Re-assure the littoral States that the Quad will be a factor for regional benefit rather than China’s containment: A positive agenda can be built around - 
• Collective action in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• Monitoring shipping for search and rescue or antipiracy operations.
• Infrastructure assistance to climatically vulnerable states.
• Connectivity initiatives and similar activities.
• Outreach to the Indian Ocean Littoral States: Since India is seeking to deny access or to create an infrastructure that impedes the legitimate movement of some extra-regional countries through the Indian Ocean. 

• Plurilateral mechanism should also serve national interest: In a recent address to the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Stephen Biegun, spoke about making sure that all the countries were moving at the same speed. 

• Needless provocation of China should be avoided: There is no gain in actions that anger the Chinese with no commensurate benefit to the others.