Opinion | After Aukus, the Quad’s quiet resolve gives China much to think about

The latest Quad summit can be seen as a preliminary effort by the US and its partners to rewire the discourse on regional security and policy priorities for the Indo-Pacific

However, following the strong signalling of Aukus, the Quad has steadfastly avoided finger-wagging

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President Joe Biden walks to the Quad summit with (from left) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in the East Room of the White House, on September 24 in Washington. Photo: AP

Published: 8:45am, 1 Oct 2021Updated: 8:55am, 1 Oct 2021

The first in-person Quad summit hosted by US President Joe Biden in Washington concluded last week with the leaders of the United States, India, Japan and Australia issuing a comprehensive joint statement – which, at 2,074 words, is also very detailed.

This joint format is significant, considering that the earlier summit in March led to the four nations opting for individual statements – indicating that the Quad, formally known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, had yet to cohere and harmonise its collective objectives.

That uncertainty and tentativeness has been set aside. Even while reiterating familiar themes and principles, the latest Quad statement exudes a quiet Biden-led resolve and collective intent that may provide some cues as to how the prevailing flux in the global strategic and security environment will be shaped.

The vision outlined is lofty: “On this historic occasion we recommit to our partnership, and to a region that is a bedrock of our shared security and prosperity – a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is also inclusive and resilient.”

Reference to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” has been doing the rounds for years in many regional deliberations, and has come into sharper focus since China started flexing its maritime muscle and intimidating or coercing smaller neighbours in maritime disputes.

Beijing has its own interpretation of historical maritime claims. Consequently, the waters of the Indo-Pacific have been muddied.