The Quad Factor in the Indo-Pacific and the Role of India
Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Volume 04, Issue 02, Spring 2021, pp. 78-85.
8 Pages Posted: 21 Mar 2021
Date Written: March 08, 2021
Abstract
While the world has come to a grinding halt under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly called the Quad, took traction under this very crisis. While countering China ranks high on the Quad’s agenda, the unfolding security environment makes it appear to have become the key agenda. That is to argue, although the Quad has not outright stated this fact, China, undeniably, is the elephant in the room. The fact that Beijing is excluded from the four-member grouping itself quantifies the very logic behind the making of the Quad. In this case, the Quad can be seen as a new kind of twenty-first-century security alliance.
What adds to the complexity of the grouping is the increasing polarization caused by the US–China rift, with both nations calling for others to “join” its side. The growing contingencies are pushing the Quad to take a greater role in fighting against nontraditional and traditional security risks. Here, the key queries remain: Has the Quad adopted a “fire-fighting” mode? If so, does that make China anxious? What is the role of India in the Indo-Pacific?
Keywords: Quad, Indo-Pacific, China, India, US-China
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