Explainer | What is the Quad, and how will it impact US-China relations under the Biden administration?

The belief that the informal security grouping of the US, India, Australia and Japan is targeting China could be its weakness, analysts say

Asian countries are seen as wary of the Quad as they seek to balance ties between Washington and Beijing, but could France be an addition to future dialogues?

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The resumption of the Quad signals that the grouping is likely to play a significant role in setting the geopolitical agenda in the Biden era. Photo: AP

Published: 4:29pm, 24 Feb 2021Updated: 12:14am, 25 Feb 2021

The United States, India, Australia and Japan have held their first meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or “Quad”, since President Joe Biden’s inauguration – showing the new US administration’s support for a grouping China has criticised as a “clique” that could start a new Cold War, despite expectations Washington would ease some pressure on Beijing to improve US-China relations.

The virtual talks were hosted by new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke with his three counterparts about cooperation on issues including the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, and “advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region”.

The resumption of the dialogue, which is widely seen as driven by shared concerns over China’s growing power and influence, signals that the grouping is likely to play a significant role in setting the geopolitical agenda in the Biden era, amid speculation that new members could join.

HOW DID THE QUAD COME ABOUT?

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe first proposed the Quad in 2007, envisaging a grouping that would help uphold “freedom and prosperity” in the Asia-Pacific. While not mentioning China by name, his proposals were widely understood as aimed at countering Beijing’s growing influence in the region. Abe solidified that perception in 2012 when he outlined his vision of a “democratic security diamond” to challenge China’s “coercive behaviour” in the East and South China Seas.

The Quad held a single round of dialogue and joint military drills in 2007, before entering a decade-long hiatus when Australia withdrew from the grouping the following year to boost ties with Beijing.

In late 2017, as the Trump administration ramped up confrontation with Beijing, the four countries kicked off the second incarnation of the Quad during a gathering in Manila focused on “issues of common interest in the Indo-Pacific region”.

Foreign ministers S. Jaishankar of India, Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi and Australia’s Marise Payne with then-US secretary of state Mike Pompeo before the Quad ministerial meeting in October. Photo: Reuters

Explainer | What is the Quad, and how will it impact US-China relations under the Biden administration?

The belief that the informal security grouping of the US, India, Australia and Japan is targeting China could be its weakness, analysts say Asian countries are seen as wary of the Quad as they seek to balance ties between Washington and Beijing, but could France be an addition to future dialogues?

The belief that the informal security grouping of the US, India, Australia and Japan is targeting China could be its weakness, analysts say

Asian countries are seen as wary of the Quad as they seek to balance ties between Washington and Beijing, but could France be an addition to future dialogues?