On 27th September 2019, the foreign ministers of four countries – India, US, Australia, and Japan convened on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting. This group, also known as the Quad, is being perceived as a potential regional counterbalance to China. Historically, meetings have taken place at a Joint or Assistant Secretary level since 2017. However, this session was notable as it signified an upgrade by at least three levels.
The Rationale Behind Quad’s Formation
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) had its origins in 2007 when the Japanese Prime Minister proposed it. However, advancement was halted due to Australia’s withdrawal, reportedly under pressure from China. It was not until November 2017 that the long-pending “Quad” Coalition took shape when India, the US, Australia, and Japan united to devise a strategy to keep the crucial sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free from any influence, primarily China.
Australia has been observing China’s escalating interest in its land, infrastructure, and political spheres with concern. Similarly, Japan has claimed that China attempted to intimidate it over various territorial issues in the past decade. Concurrently, China’s border disputes with India continue, and China’s resistance towards India’s induction into the Nuclear Suppliers Group persists.
Quad’s Recent Meeting Highlights
The ministers discussed a wide range of subjects, including counter-terrorism, mentoring, disaster relief assistance, airtime security, cooperation, development finance, and cybersecurity. One of the significant takeaways from the meeting was the unanimous support among Quad countries for ASEAN’s centrality in South East Asia. The term “ASEAN centrality” typically refers to the Southeast Asian nations being at the heart of security and strategic frameworks for the Asia-Pacific region.
| Quad Members | Year of Inception | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|
| India, US, Australia, Japan | 2017 | To keep the Indo-Pacific seaways free from influence |
G-4 Meeting: An Initiative for UNSC Reformation
Simultaneously, the foreign ministers of G-4, a group comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan who support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the UNSC (United Nations Security Council), also held a meeting. The focus of their deliberations was to prepare a fresh push for UNSC reforms in 2020 when the UN marks its 75th anniversary.
The G-4 countries argued for an enhanced role of developing nations and major contributors to the UN, aiming to make the UNSC more legitimate, effective, and representative. This proposition implies that India and Brazil, the two developing countries in G-4, should be granted a place along with China, the lone developing country on the UNSC. Additionally, they underscored the importance of Africa’s involvement in the Council. Contrary to China’s insistence on “comprehensive consensus,” the G-4 proposed that reform-related decisions should require a two-thirds majority in the UNGA, as stipulated in the UNGA’s 1998 resolution.
