The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), commonly known as the QUAD, comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia has been gaining momentum in recent years, with many speculating it could become an ‘Asian NATO’ to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. It’s for sure that the QUAD has undoubtedly emerged as a significant grouping in the Indo-Pacific region, with its members cooperating on issues such as maritime security, infrastructure development, and technology. However, questions are now being asked whether the QUAD can effectively deter China’s influence in the region and what implications this could have for the broader geopolitical landscape. As the QUAD continues to evolve, its role and impact on the regional dynamics are needed to be watched closely.
US efforts to counter China’s influence
The United States’ efforts to counter China’s influence in Asia have been gaining momentum, with the QQUAD emerging as a key component of its strategy in the region. According to a report, the QUAD represents a new era of micro-alliances, where small groups of countries align based on shared interests rather than a traditional alliance structure. The US’s focus on the QUAD can be attributed to its aim of maintaining its global hegemony, as China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region continues to grow. In recent years, China has been expanding its military capabilities and asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea, causing concern among neighbouring countries. To counter this, the US has been pushing for greater cooperation among the QUAD member countries. In March 2021, the leaders of the four countries held their first-ever summit, where they reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and pledged to work together on issues such as maritime security, infrastructure development, and technology.
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The US has also been providing military support to its allies in the region. In September 2020, the US signed a military agreement with India that allows the two countries to share geospatial intelligence, enabling closer cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the US has been conducting joint military exercises with Japan and Australia, further strengthening the security cooperation among the QUAD member countries. However, as China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region continues to grow, it remains to be seen how effective the US’s approach will be in countering its rise.

India’s role in the QUAD
India, one of the four members of the QUAD, has been increasing its participation in the grouping. According to the Times of India, India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has called the QUAD “a platform for like-minded countries” to address regional and global challenges. Moreover, the report suggests that India sees the QUAD as an important grouping to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of the recent border clashes between India and China. India’s role in the QUAD can be attributed to its ongoing border disputes with China, which escalated in 2020 with a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. The incident resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an undisclosed number of Chinese troops, and has further strained the already tense relationship between the two countries. In response, India has been increasing its participation in the QUAD, viewing it as a means to counter China’s growing influence in the region. In March 2021, India hosted a meeting of the QUAD’s foreign ministers, where they discussed issues such as Covid response, climate change, and maritime security.
India has also been strengthening its bilateral ties with the other QUAD member countries. In 2020, India signed a landmark defence pact with Australia, which allows the two countries to participate in military exercises and share defence capabilities. Additionally, India has been increasing its military cooperation with Japan, with the two countries conducting their first-ever joint military exercise in 2020. Additionally, India’s growing participation in the QUAD has been driven by its desire to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of the recent border clashes between the two countries. As the QUAD continues to evolve, India’s role in the grouping and its implications for the regional dynamics will surely be closely watched by China.
Can the QUAD deter China?
The QUAD, comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, has been viewed as a potential ‘Asian NATO’ to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. But can the QUAD effectively deter China? The QUAD members have maintained that the grouping is not meant to be anti-China but rather to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, China has criticised the grouping, calling it an attempt to contain its rise. According to a news report, the QUAD can serve as a counterbalance to China’s growing economic and military influence in the region.
The QUAD members have been taking steps towards enhancing their cooperation in various domains, including defence, economics, and technology. For instance, in March 2021, the QUAD foreign ministers issued a joint statement pledging to expand vaccine production and delivery capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, indicating their commitment to cooperate on global health issues. However, the QUAD also faces several challenges that could hinder its effectiveness in deterring China. One of the biggest challenges is the differing priorities among its members, with each country having its own national interests and strategic objectives. This could result in a lack of coherence and unity within the grouping. Another challenge is the risk of provoking China, which could escalate tensions in the region. The QUAD members need to be careful to avoid any actions that could be perceived as aggressive or hostile towards China.

Additionally, China’s economic clout in the region cannot be ignored. In 2020, China was the largest trading partner for Japan, Australia, and South Korea, and the second-largest for India. In contrast, the US, one of the QUAD members, was only the third-largest trading partner for Japan and Australia and the seventh-largest for India. This highlights the challenge of balancing economic interests with strategic objectives. As China continues to invest heavily in infrastructure projects and offer loans to countries in the region through its Belt and Road Initiative, the QUAD may find it challenging to compete in terms of economic assistance and investment.
To conclude, the QUAD has undoubtedly emerged as a key grouping in the Indo-Pacific region, with many speculating that it could become an ‘Asian NATO’ to counter China’s influence. While the member countries have sustained that the alliance is not meant to be anti-China, its efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific are seen by many as a challenge to China’s rise. As the QUAD gains momentum, the efficacy of the alliance to deter China’s influence in the region and its potential impact on the broader geopolitical landscape remains to be seen.