Satish Kumar
The question is whether the new world order with the Quad will be ready, which will be able to establish maritime rules and democratic values! It should not be forgotten that the efforts of the stronger countries in the world order are always unilateral. That is, there are no rules, but their actions make the rules.
Recently, many serious global issues including Afghanistan, Myanmar were discussed in the meeting of foreign ministers of Quad group member countries- US, Australia, Japan and India in Melbourne. In the joint statement issued after the meeting, an attempt was also made to keep the latest meeting between Pakistan and China in an indirect way. But India remained silent on the issue of Ukraine. Consensus was reached on many other global issues.
Such as creating a disciplined and orderly Indo-Pacific region, a partnership strategy to fight the corona epidemic and a plan to deal with the climate crisis. But this question is also puzzling somewhere that after all, against whom has this preparation been done? Is the need for protest against China the same for all or are there differences among themselves? If we are trying to understand the edge and base of the quad, it becomes more important to discuss its relevance. However, China is trying to downplay its importance by calling it a mere propaganda mechanism.
The Quad has also shown a tough stand on terrorism. The great achievement of this meeting for India was that all the member countries strongly condemned the terrorist attacks like Mumbai and Pathankot. Tackled Pakistan on cross-border terrorism. This issue also arose because Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had visited China a few days ago, raised the issue of Kashmir in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Therefore, through this meeting, the Quad gave a strong message warning Pakistan on the issue of terrorism. The joint statement clearly said that ‘we call upon all countries to ensure that the territory under their control is not allowed to be used for terrorist activities’. Concern was also expressed in this meeting on the current situation in Afghanistan.
The four foreign ministers gave a scathing voice to the incumbent Taliban. “We reaffirm UNSC (United Nations Security Council) Resolution 2593 (2021) that Afghan territory can be used to threaten or attack any country, harbor terrorists, train them, or for planning or funding terrorist acts.
Broadly speaking, the Quad is an organization of four countries, which includes India, America, Australia and Japan. These four countries are also the biggest economic powers of the world. They want to control China’s growing grandeur and influence in the Asia-Pacific region. Another important thing about the Quad is that its concept was formally introduced in 2007 by the then Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. However, it has also been added for the purpose of helping the affected countries, especially Japan, during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
In 2012, Abe expressed his intention to create a ‘Democratic Security Diamond’ with Australia, India and the US to ensure maritime security from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In the wake of the COVID crisis, the US recently introduced Quad Plus and included Brazil, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea and Vietnam. Similarly, Britain is also now considering forming an alliance with ten democratic countries of the world including India, whose aim is to build a secure 5G network with the contribution of these countries while reducing dependence on China.
It is clear that the Quad is working swiftly to encircle China. However, it has other goals. The influence of regional forces in the Indo-Pacific region is also to be kept within the bounds of the rule. There is both Japan and China in it. Before the Second World War, Japan had made this route its fiefdom. Today China is trying to do the same thing. America is troubled because it is not getting direct access to this area. Therefore, it is moving towards establishing its foothold in this field on the basis of partner countries like India, Australia.
Japan and America have the biggest crisis in the South China Sea. Along with this region, China has also increased its activities rapidly in the Western Pacific region. Japan’s Senkaku Island is targeted by China. The way China is desperate for Taiwan, it will also have to surround Japan. Japan and America have a military alliance in this area. America also needs Japan’s help to save Taiwan. Australia is also a major ally of America and there is military cooperation between the two. But India is not yet involved in this campaign. Therefore, the question is important that do the four countries have the same thinking regarding the siege of China? In the past, Australia was most vocal against China, especially during the Corona epidemic.
India has never and is not in favor of making the Quad a military alliance, while the rest of the three countries seem to be moving towards making it a military organization like NATO. Only after India said no, a new organization of three countries was formed, which is known as Ocas. Whereas China is creating the biggest trouble for India. His espionage operation in the Indian Ocean continues. By forming factions within South Asia, he is carrying out anti-India activities. Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port, Maldives, Myanmar and Bangladesh are also targets of China. Yet India does not want the Indian Pacific to become a base for military encounters.
Another important reason is also geography. The four countries are located on different parts of the earth. That’s why everyone’s needs and reasons of rivalry are also different. In such a situation, it does not seem that the Quad can work as a strong unit, especially against the resistance of China. Whereas China’s business expansion is also a compulsion for the four countries.
The question is, will the new world order with the Quad be ready, which will be able to establish maritime rules and democratic values? Will the institutions of the world work in a fair manner? It should not be forgotten that the efforts of strong countries in the world order are always one-sided, that is, there are no rules, but their activities make the rules. What Britain did in the nineteenth century, America has been doing in the last hundred years and now China is doing.
It is not that China cannot be controlled. If Quad wants, it can do this work by making India strong. For this, America and other countries will have to change the basic thinking. Tibet is China’s weakest pulse. Thirty-five percent of its area belongs to Tibet. Here it meets its border with India. So the polarization should be about Tibet, not the South China Sea. But America and Japan will have problems in this and they may never agree to this. For India, its own interest is more important. Enemy one, but the length of his shadow appears to be different for all four. This is the biggest problem.
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