QUAD for Free Indo-Pacific | Gist of Rajya Sabha TV / RSTV (now Sansad TV) - UPSC PDF Download

Context

At the 4th Quad Ministerial Meeting, the foreign ministers of the Quad grouping agreed to work tirelessly to realise their shared goal of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

What is Quad?

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a partnership of Australia, India, Japan and the US.
• Know more about the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD Group).

About the Fourth Quad Ministerial Meeting

• Australia hosted India, Japan and the United States for the fourth Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Melbourne.
• This is the first time Quad Foreign Ministers are meeting since the two Quad Summits.
• Highlights of the meeting:
  • Quad resolved to speed up the delivery of more than a billion COVID-19 vaccines to be manufactured in India.
  • The Quad reaffirmed a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific in which states strive to protect the interests of their people, free from coercion.
  • Quad aims to hold a special meeting on climate change in 2022, and to step up efforts to ensure maritime security in the region.

What is a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’?

• A free and open Indo-Pacific means that individual countries will be able to choose their own path and their own partners.
• Free and Open Indo-Pacific is an umbrella term that aims to develop a free and open Indo-Pacific region as “international public goods”, through ensuring rule-based international order and prosperity in the region as a whole.
• Three pillars to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific:
  • Promotion and establishment of the rule of law, freedom of navigation, free trade, etc.
  • Pursuit of economic prosperity
  • Commitment for peace and stability

Quad’s recent progress addressing global challenges includes

• COVID-19: The partnership is expanding COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing to produce at least 1 billion doses in India by the end of 2022. 
• Climate change: Quad announced a new green shipping network that will promote environmentally friendly port infrastructure and seek to decarbonize the shipping value chain.
• Emerging technologies: The Quad is working to advance diverse, resilient and secure fifth-generation telecommunications systems. 
• Human rights: Quad announced plans to advance emerging technologies with a respect for democratic values and human rights.
• Infrastructure: Quad launched an infrastructure coordination group that will support the development of transparent, high-quality projects that support local communities.
• Cybersecurity: A new Quad cyber group focuses on driving improvements, including shared standards, secure software and trustworthy digital infrastructure.
• Space: Quad leaders began discussions on space cooperation with an agreement to share satellite data to monitor climate change, prepare for disasters and better use ocean resources.

Significance of Quad for India

• China's military and economic ascent is strategically resisted by Quad. India can enlist the assistance of the other Quad states to combat an increase in Chinese hostilities along its borders.
• India is even capable of conducting strategic research in the Indo-Pacific area with the aid of its naval force.
• The Quad arrangement allows India the chance to collaborate on a variety of multilateral projects that can contribute to the development of an open and free Indo-Pacific region.
• Quad will work to create a coercive-free, open, inclusive, and free Indo-Pacific area.

The challenge of building a “free and open” Indo-Pacific

• South China Sea: The biggest challenge to the “free and open Indo-Pacific” strategy relates specifically to the South China Sea as it is a highly strategic corridor that connects the Indian and Pacific oceans. 
• Security Challenges: The Indo-Pacific region is at the centre of global challenges that relate to terrorism, extremism, ocean piracy, and threats to the safety of sea lanes. 
• Strategic concerns with international law: The United States has still to accede to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has sought to unilaterally interpret UNCLOS’s provisions in its favour to assert maritime claims. This was apparent when the Philippines filed a South China Sea-related complaint against China in 2013 with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

Conclusion

The Quad has evolved as a unique partnership and is poised to play a meaningful role in promoting stability, security and development in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad countries recognise each other’s approaches and have endeavoured to revive the group by building on the areas of convergence. Playing by international rules and not seeking to redraw borders by force are central to peace and security.