US, JAPAN, INDIA, AUSTRALIA ... IS QUAD THE FIRST STEP TO AN ASIAN NATO?

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US, JAPAN, INDIA, AUSTRALIA ... IS QUAD THE FIRST STEP TO AN ASIAN NATO?
It’s more than just changing the name of the ‘Asia-Pacific’ to the ‘Indo-Pacific’ – the ‘Quad’ grouping of like-minded democracies has the potential to dramatically change the region’s security landscape

BY CARY HUANG

25 NOV 2017

(From left) Japan's defence minister Tomomi Inada, US defence secretary James Mattis and Australia's defence minister Marise Payne. Photo: Reuters
IT is no longer the “Asia-Pacific”, but the “Indo-Pacific”, at least, according to the United States and some of its allies. Such a change may not seem much on first glance, but these four letters are far more than a matter of semantics: they have the potential to create a seismic shift in the geopolitical landscape of the region.

This much was evidenced when the US, Japan, Australia and India announced this month they had agreed to create a coalition that would patrol and exert influence on waterways from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific to the (much disputed) East and South China Seas. The grouping of the four “like-minded” democracies – known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad – was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007, but the idea was dropped after Beijing protested, saying the defence partnership with India was aimed at stifling China’s growth. It made a sudden comeback when senior officials from the four nations met in Manila on November 11 – on the sidelines of regional summits during US President Donald Trump’s maiden tour to East Asia. Obviously, the group will have a China-centric security agenda. The Quad’s rebirth highlights the growing suspicion and unease diplomats in Washington, Tokyo, Canberra and New Delhi feel about China’s meteoric military and economic rise.

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In a statement after the meeting, the four nations said they were committed to ensuring a “free and open” region, with “respect for international law”, and “the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific”, a reference to what they see as China’s flouting of territorial, maritime and trade rules – including Beijing’s rejection of an international tribunal’s ruling against it regarding its South China Sea dispute with the Philippines.

Japanese Rear Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura (left), US Rear Admiral William Byrne (right) and HCS Bisht, vice admiral of the Indian Navy, during the inauguration of joint naval exercises. Photo: AFP

The new strategy to confront China head on with a unified front underscored a growing regional competition between Beijing and Washington. The Quad meeting came as the US appeared to be shifting strategic focus. As Trump was visiting East Asia, he too referred to the region as the “Indo-Pacific” rather than the “Asia-Pacific” – a clear shot at Beijing.

The strategy appears to be part of Trump’s “hard-balancing” of his East Asia diplomatic policy. He sees it as a way to keep a US presence in the region after abandoning his predecessor Barack Obama’s ‘pivot to Asia’ and withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

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Those moves could be interpreted as a sign of passivity in the region. Although a dominant power in the Pacific since the end of the second world war, the US’s diplomatic and military might have rarely extended past the Indian Ocean. However, the new accord shows Washington’s commitment – on both diplomatic and security fronts – to the region and highlights the importance of India as an ally.

Smaller nations, such as South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, might also benefit from a US-led partnership in a multipolar “Indo-Pacific” to check China’s power.

It also underlines the rising significance of maritime geopolitics in an increasingly integrated world. Economically, the strategy can be seen as an answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to establish a China-centric trade route from the Philippines to the Mediterranean Sea.

Why is the US calling Asia-Pacific the Indo-Pacific? Donald Trump to ‘clarify’
Though the Quad members have not said their aim is to contain the world’s last major communist-ruled nation, they see the rise of totalitarianism as a potential threat to regional and global stability and peace. The grouping has said its aim is to promote freedom, liberty and democracy and to make sure liberalism prevails over totalitarianism in the region.

What might define this accord more than its shared ideology, is the lack of competing interests on regional security issues, including the South and East China Seas and North Korea. The aegis these democracies create has the potential to develop into an Asian Nato – and dramatically change the region’s security landscape in the decades ahead. ■

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Cary Huang, a senior writer with the South China Morning Post, has been a China affairs columnist since the 1990s

 

[oOo]

1-2 din Islamabad pe dhyaan do....ye sab baatein baad mai ho jaayengi.

 

[Chhatrapati]

Asian NATO . I thought SCO is the next NATO.

 

[Azadkashmir]

How this is asian nato? USA? What is this bull shit propaganda. Bring peace and Democracy in the region? people of that region had too much of it, they prefer china influence any day. China arrives signs a deal and next week a bridge is built and everyone is driving their cars to destination.
America arrives with jets and the bridge is blown everyone is driving out for safety.
Japanese have no choice but to allow USA to use them, India of course has it own agenda due to china, Australia they probably worried china is rising. USA is desperate for influence in the region as china's rise to power is making their a ss burn. I hope new world order collapses.

 

[Chhatrapati]

How this is asian nato? USA? What is this bull shit propaganda. Bring peace and Democracy in the region? people of that region had too much of it, they prefer china influence any day. China arrives signs a deal and next week a bridge is built and everyone is driving their cars to destination.
America arrives with jets and the bridge is blown everyone is driving out for safety.
Japanese have no choice but to allow USA to use them, India of course has it own agenda due to china, Australia they probably worried china is rising. USA is desperate for influence in the region as china's rise to power is making their a ss burn. I hope new world order collapses.

Every country in Asia prefers to stay on it's own and develop. Not being lapdog of some economic giant. So, your influence Bull crap doesn't work on every Asian country.

If things were that simple China would be as developed as USA. But they aren't. USA - Australia are two economic giants both in terms of natural resources and destination for export. Even China is largely depended on US and the west (incl Australia) for it's export.

You are right, India has it's own agenda and that will be gather more investment into our country, boost our exports and improve our security condition. If such a coalition helps to secure that, then we will be on board without wasting a moment.

 

[Azadkashmir]

Every country in Asia prefers to stay on it's own and develop. Not being lapdog of some economic giant. So, your influence Bull crap doesn't work on every Asian country.

If things were that simple China would be as developed as USA. But they aren't. USA - Australia are two economic giants both in terms of natural resources and destination for export. Even China is largely depended on US and the west (incl Australia) for it's export.

You are right, India has it's own agenda and that will be gather more investment into our country, boost our exports and improve our security condition. If such a coalition helps to secure that, then we will be on board without wasting a moment.

Being part of cpec is not to be a lapdog but to prosper in Asia, also to develop this region and make Asian style NATO. India likes to be diff here and rather submit to western hegemony and even after being constantly offered a stake in the cpec project.

China is 1 billion and is world producer of goods. USA world exporter of warfare. India security situation can be improved if join cpec instead of b itching and sending terror across the border.

USA does not belong to Asia. Australia although is in asia it is not asian in terms of leadership it is western-zion controlled region. Japan is Asian but is abused gf of USA and she will strip when USA says so. India, They have a choice but they rather submit to hegemony.

 

[kasper95]

. India likes to be diff here and rather submit to western hegemony and even after being constantly offered a stake in the cpec project.
.

I am not sure what do you mean by joing CPEC ,bro your country rent even allow India and Afghanistan to trade directly via road by Pakistan .so your talk of offering stake is BS.you can talk a lot but that won't change ground realities and more over it passes through the land claimed by Indian which has been under occupation by Pakistan as per India ,so there is no question of India joining CPEC .

Name one country where China has invested in big projects and the country has been a success story

 

[Chhatrapati]

Being part of cpec is not to be a lapdog but to prosper in Asia, also to develop this region and make Asian style NATO. India likes to be diff here and rather submit to western hegemony and even after being constantly offered a stake in the cpec project.

China is 1 billion and is world producer of goods. USA world exporter of warfare. India security situation can be improved if join cpec instead of b itching and sending terror across the border.

USA does not belong to Asia. Australia although is in asia it is not asian in terms of leadership it is western-zion controlled region. Japan is Asian but is abused gf of USA and she will strip when USA says so. India, They have a choice but they rather submit to hegemony.

Haller, what has CPEC got to do with this? Or even Pakistan? There won't be an Asian style NATO to begin with, it's some stupid idea. Asia is a continent where a lot of countries are fighting with each other. A NATO like organization is a far cry.

China produce, yeah because it's cheap. Soon they will become a consumption driven economy if they want to sustain their growth. (After that, you resort to worthless boogey man rant). How can India's security be improved if our two main security threat is Pakistan and China. I mean, come on, it's that simple to understand.

USA does belong to earth wether you like it or not. And ships are sailing back and froth from USA to Asia. Again with rest of your comment is nonsense mulla argument about the Zionist conspiracy, and anti - american rant.

The importance of which you can only understand when looking through normal glasses.

 

[Azadkashmir]

I am not sure what do you mean by joing CPEC ,bro your country rent even allow India and Afghanistan to trade directly via road by Pakistan .so your talk of offering stake is BS.you can talk a lot but that won't change ground realities and more over it passes through the land claimed by Indian which has been under occupation by Pakistan as per India ,so there is no question of India joining CPEC .

Name one country where China has invested in big projects and the country has been a success story

wtf you on about ? pak has offered many times cpec deal but Indians being Indians make excuses.
which land claimed by Indian that pak occupies ? you mean azad Kashmir god you truly are brainwashed. Come to azad Kashmir and ask about pak occupation but if you go to other side, you get indians regularly oppresses Kashmiris by raping, pillaging, destroying bussiness etc.
one only needs to ask dalits about freedom and other stuff that happens like beef lynchings and much more.

China has invested in Africa and they are doing whole lot better than under western hegemony.

 

[cloud4000]

There will be no NATO-like structure. For one thing, India would never join such a thing. It's the equivalent of a suicide pact. India prides itself on acting independently when needed.

How this is asian nato? USA? What is this bull shit propaganda. Bring peace and Democracy in the region? people of that region had too much of it, they prefer china influence any day. China arrives signs a deal and next week a bridge is built and everyone is driving their cars to destination.
America arrives with jets and the bridge is blown everyone is driving out for safety.
Japanese have no choice but to allow USA to use them, India of course has it own agenda due to china, Australia they probably worried china is rising. USA is desperate for influence in the region as china's rise to power is making their a ss burn. I hope new world order collapses.

Ask China's neighbors what they think of the Red Dragon breathing down their neck. SCS alone makes China a worrisome -- and meddling -- "partner." Sure these countries will do trade with China, but it's good to have options. But don't worry, there's no Asian NATO coming. Past attempts -- CENTO and SEATO -- fizzed out.

 

[kasper95]

wtf you on about ? pak has offered many times cpec deal but Indians being Indians make excuses.
which land claimed by Indian that pak occupies ? you mean azad Kashmir god you truly are brainwashed. Come to azad Kashmir and ask about pak occupation but if you go to other side, you get indians regularly oppresses Kashmiris by raping, pillaging, destroying bussiness etc.
one only needs to ask dalits about freedom and other stuff that happens like beef lynchings and much more.

China has invested in Africa and they are doing whole lot better than under western hegemony.

I know cpec is the last hope for Pakistan and I understand your urge to defend it ,do you have any link showing Pakistan made an offer to India to join cpec , the reality of the ground speaks otherwise .as I said Pakistan dsnt allow India and Afghanistan to trade via Pakistan ,tell me will you take such a offer seriously.

 

[Azadkashmir]

I know cpec is the last hope for Pakistan and I understand your urge to defend it ,do you have any link showing Pakistan made an offer to India to join cpec , the reality of the ground speaks otherwise .as I said Pakistan dsnt allow India and Afghanistan to trade via Pakistan ,tell me will you take such a offer seriously.

You cant argue with an indian. why don't you google it yourself, i am not feeding you.

 

[empirefighter]

To Indians: Learn more knowledge, we all know you India want to join the so called eastern NATO if this organization exists, but it is impossible for other countries in South-East region to join the "eastern NATO". These countries are much more smarter than India, after all, they have much higher IQ than Indian. If there was a war, why the South-East countries take the risk to have a war with us for the USA national interest. Since USA alone can defeat us, actually USA do not need any ally. USA just want other countries fight with us first, then they give a final attack as they did in WW1 and WW2, least lost, most gain. Every country including Japan know that except the low IQ India, so there will no any South-East country to join any organization confronting us.
I can understand why Australia or Japan are worried, they benefit much from this world order, so they hating changing. but for India, benefit little from this world order. Just like a slave, eager to die for the master.
Frankly speaking, we indeed donot like a hostile India, but India have not much threat to us no matter what organization you join. 1.your capital is so closed to us. 2. you Indian are so incapable. 3. after you India makes your choice, we can determine what we do next in South Asian.

 

[MultaniGuy]

lol bullshit propaganda. There is no such thing as a US, Japan, India, and Australia NATO.

 

[friendly_troll96]

This Asian NATO must be super practical because it consists of 3.5 continents with no two member countries connected by a road.