Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Super Quadrilateral Grouping' that was published in Newsband

Super Quadrilateral Grouping

The ‘Quadrilateral’ grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the U.S. will meet in Singapore. The Quad is billed as four democracies with a shared objective to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. The four countries are expected to discuss infrastructure projects they are working on, and building humanitarian disaster response mechanisms. Discussions will include some of the overlapping issues among these groupings.

But the Quad remains a mechanism without a defined strategic mission. In 2007, when the grouping was first formed the idea was to better coordinate maritime capabilities for disaster situations. When revived in 2017, the grouping seemed to have become a counter to China’s growing inroads into the region. The entire focus on the Indo-Pacific makes the Quad a maritime, rather than land-based, grouping. Each member is committed to building a stronger Quadrilateral engagement. We have to see what the outcome of the third round in Singapore will be.

It should be clear to anyone who is willing to see that China has been spreading its tentacles in the Indian Ocean and in the South China Sea and East China Sea for quite some time but no one takes serious note of the threat that this constitutes for countries of the region or for world peace. There is not much appreciation even in USA that China's expansionist actions need to be countered. The primary reason why QUAD is not able to show its full potential is due to uncertain policies of the USA. No Quad country is sure how the US or other grouping country will react if there is any dispute with China because not a single country, except the USA, is able to challenge the hegemony designs of the powerful China.

It is in order to remember, however, that whenever China was strong it launched on a career of expansion. It has continued to do so in its incarnation as PRC. India has been at the receiving end of Chinese attention, forcing India to think carefully. We can hardly regard Chinese actions in South China Sea as anything less than territorial dispute. For an age now, China has been pursuing what is seen in India as imperial expansion not limited to China's time as PRC. The Chinese State in recent centuries has spread its hegemony over many non-Chinese peoples and had no compunction about shouting down secretary of state Mr Pompeo when he talked with Mr Yi about South China Sea.

Australia also has serious issue with China because of the latter's intrusion into Australian political system thereby threatening their democracy. However, India is wary of including Australia in the Malabar Exercises, a barometer for successful Quad when the Aussie Navy partakes it.

The 'Quad' or 'Indo-Pacific' or 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' remains a myth, concept or a hypothesis; different parties interpret differently and, as highlighted above, yet to define a common agenda. Whether ganging-up to take on China or keep the Indo-Pacific free from dominance, is still unclear. After Japan's PM visit to China last month, and willing to participate in the BRI, the Quad views turned topsy-turvy. Now, the Quad Members - rich or poor, are willing to join together in building infrastructure in the Region.

The time for Quads institutionalization has come and India should shun its ambiguity and need to foster the emerging institution. What is left to be seen is whether Quad will succeed in being the right answer to the Russia-China-Pakistan-Iran axis.

Quad meeting must be with fruitful outcome by which inter country investment among the members are made both on business and social projects. Yet all the member countries must establish the unwanted domination and claim of China in Pacific region.