IRIA News

The leaders of the Quad, a strategic partnership between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, met in Delaware on September 21, 2024, to deepen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Hosted by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, the summit focused on expanding joint security steps in Asia’s trade-rich waters, an area marked by increasing territorial disputes with China.

In attendance were Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Quad grouping, established in response to shared concerns about China’s growing influence and assertiveness in the region, has evolved into a key component of the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific strategy under Biden’s leadership.

Biden, who has made the Quad a signature foreign policy achievement of his presidency, emphasized the importance of the group’s cohesion. With the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5, Biden’s time in office is nearing its end, and he used this meeting to solidify the Quad’s standing as a critical regional security framework. He stressed that the Quad is “here to stay,” a sentiment echoed by his counterparts.

Expanding Maritime Security Cooperation

One of the key outcomes of the summit was the announcement of joint Coast Guard operations set to begin next year. These operations will see Australian, Japanese, and Indian personnel serving aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, reflecting a new level of practical collaboration. Although the leaders did not specify where these operations would occur, the move signals a heightened focus on maritime security in response to China’s aggressive tactics in the region, particularly in the South and East China Seas.

The Quad leaders also agreed to expand the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, an initiative launched two years ago to bolster maritime security and surveillance in the Indo-Pacific. This partnership aims to help countries in the region monitor illegal fishing, piracy, and other maritime threats, areas where China’s activities have raised concerns.

Although the White House reiterated that the Quad’s activities are not directed at any specific country, the joint statement issued by the leaders took a hard stance on China’s coercive behavior.

Without directly naming China, the statement condemned “coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea,” a clear reference to China’s expansive territorial claims, which conflict with those of several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Unified Response

The summit’s focus on maritime security underscored growing concerns about China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly its efforts to assert dominance over contested waters and territories. President Biden highlighted China’s changing tactics, noting that while Beijing may be recalibrating its domestic economic policies, it continues to test U.S. and allied responses in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.

“We believe Xi Jinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges and minimize the turbulence in China’s diplomatic relationships, and he’s also looking to buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China’s interest,” Biden remarked during the summit.

China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, has been accused of ramping up tensions through military maneuvers and coercive diplomacy. Chinese President Xi Jinping has criticized the Quad as an effort to encircle Beijing and provoke conflict.

The Quad leaders also addressed other pressing security issues, including North Korea’s ballistic missile program and cyber activities. Their joint statement condemned Pyongyang’s missile launches and malicious cyber operations, emphasizing the need for regional stability. A U.S. official added that the group shared concerns about North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia.

Critical technology and health initiatives

Beyond security, the Quad leaders also make strides in technology and health. They discussed initiatives aimed at delivering critical technologies, such as an open radio access network, to the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. These regions have become arenas of intense geopolitical competition with China, which has been increasing its influence through investments and infrastructure projects.

In addition to technology, the Quad is also focusing on healthcare. A new initiative introduced during the summit aims to combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific, marking a significant expansion of the Quad’s non-military agenda.

As Biden prepares to leave the Oval Office and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida faces a leadership contest, questions about the Quad’s future have arisen. Australian Prime Minister Albanese, whose country will hold elections next year, expressed optimism about the group’s power. He hailed the new Coast Guard plan as “very important,” noting that the cooperation would improve interoperability among the four countries.