THE QUAD AND EAST ASIAN SECURITY: EVALUATING ITS ROLE IN COUNTERING CHINA'S INFLUENCE

Abstract

This article evaluates the role of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), comprising the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, in the context of China's growing influence in East Asia. The study examines the QUAD's historical evolution, from its initial formation in 2007, through a period of dormancy, to its revitalization in 2017, driven by increasing concerns over China's assertive foreign policy and military expansion. The analysis explores the QUAD's stated objectives and principles, which center around promoting a "free and open Indo-Pacific," upholding a rules-based international order, and fostering cooperation on a range of shared challenges, including maritime security, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, critical technology, supply chain resilience, climate change, and global health. The research assesses the QUAD's inherent strengths, including the combined economic and military capabilities of its member states, their shared democratic values and strategic alignment, and the broad scope of their cooperation beyond traditional security concerns. However, the study also acknowledges the QUAD's limitations, such as its informal structure, the potential for divergent national interests among its members, and concerns about provoking China and eliciting negative regional reactions. Through an examination of specific examples of QUAD engagements, such as Exercise Malabar and its initiatives related to Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam, the article illustrates the practical manifestations of its activities and their potential impact. The research concludes that the QUAD has the potential to play a significant role in shaping the regional order by deterring Chinese aggression, promoting alternative partnerships for regional countries, and reinforcing adherence to international norms. However, the QUAD's effectiveness hinges on its ability to address its limitations, maintain open communication with China, and build broader regional support for its objectives.

Keywords: Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, United States, Indo-Pacific, Regional Support