Origin
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is a strategic forum initiated in 2007 by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe between Australia, India, Japan and USA. These nations came together for the first time in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. With Australia and Japan joining the Indo-US annual naval drill- Exercise Malabar in 2007, the forum was generally viewed as a response to China’s rising economic and military power.
In 2008, following India’s ‘Indo-Sino relations are a priority’ stand, the government declared that it wasn’t part of an effort to contain China. Further, Australia formally withdrew from the form following Kevin Rudd’s election as PM. These events put the ‘Quad’ in a state of dormancy until 2017.
In 2017, the heads of the four nations, once again reformed the Quad with the aim to achieve a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’. After multiple rounds of meetings at different levels of government including 3 ministerial ones, the first formal head of state Quad Summit was held on 12th March 2021.
Attendees: PM Narendra Modi of India, President Joe Biden of the US, PM Morrison of Australia and PM Suga of Japan.
Following the summit, the heads of state issued a joint statement emphasising the goal of a free, open, inclusive and healthy region that is anchored in democratic values and unconstrained by coercion. A structured course of action has been announced for three areas of cooperation: Covid-19 response, critical and emerging technology and climate change. Further an in-person summit is being planned towards the end of 2021.
Covid-19 respond
Focus on global availability and delivery of effective vaccines
Launch the Quad Vaccine Expert Group with scientists and officials from the four governments to accelerate vaccine manufacture and delivery
US to finance expansion of Biological E Ltd in India to manufacture at least 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses by 2022
Japan to issue concessional loans for India to expand vaccine manufacturing for export
Quad nations will work together to ensure that expanded manufacturing is absorbed by multilateral initiatives such as COVAX
Australia to contribute $77 million for provision and last mile delivery of vaccines in Southeast Asia
Japan will provide grants worth $41 million for purchase of Covid-19 vaccines and cold storage facilities in developing countries
$100 million from US for immunization across countries in the region through existing programs
Critical and emerging technology
Quad Critical & Emerging Technology Working Group will be formed to develop a statement of principles, facilitate and encourage coordination and cooperation among the four nations on advanced critical and emerging technologies technologies in areas such as computing, weapons technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, chemical, biological and nuclear mitigation technologies, data science and storage and energy technologies.
Climate change
Quad Climate Working Group to be launched to promote on cooperation between the four nations and other countries in the region to implement targets as per the Paris Agreement
Renewed commitment to advance low-emissions technology to support emissions reductions
Further, expand cooperation on climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience and climate finance
Is success of Quad a diplomatic win for India against China? How do you think will China respond?
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