India and the QUAD

 India’s Entry into QUAD & Benefits

Grab the opportunity to get on US’s right side just as China used the opportunity to get on US’s right side during Reagan Administration. At that time US (post Nixon-Kissinger era) was searching for an ally in Asia to counter the Soviet Union. China was the perfect example. It showered huge money in FCI, technology and opened its markets for imports. In turn China just postured but did nothing to upset the Soviet-US balance. Now the same or similar opportunity is knocking at India’s door. US is looking for an ally in Asia to counter China (not Russia)  in South China Sea and the rest of Asia. China has grown far more aggressive and is challenging US to deter it to step its foot in Asia or open seas. Although the Chinese military is too preliminary in its capabilities, but still they are giving it a try. 

India with 60 years of military and border trouble with China is a perfect fit the become a US ally and counter China. The Chinese have become belligerent with too much US trade cash and have begun to exert pressure on the US itself.

It took them 8 years of deliberations for US to come up with a solution to this rising Chinese menace. They need a big ally with capable strategy on which they could shower FCI, technology and build up as a major counter to China. India is the perfect example.

That opportunity arrived in the form of a revival of the QUAD concept in Asia to encircle China. The concept had been around since 2008 but US did not fully elucidate it well and India seemed to be disinterested in the concept. It is geographical Japan, Australia and US pooling their naval might together to tell the Chinese first, that no more South China Sea capture will be permitted and second, force China to withdraw from the South China back to its shores. 

It was President Trump, who wished to tackle China head on. It tackled on its trade/exports and then went around asking the possible QUAD members to pool resources together. US alone could force China out with its naval might but wished to tackle China at sea with joint effort in order to forestall criticism of its actions. All tiny nations like Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia/Singapore, etc. are sick of being bullied by China but have no power to do that. If QUAD power emerges, then they have the power and force China away.

For India other than limiting Chinese naval power expansion to Indian expansion has a direct benefit. In case the Chinese get too ambitious and stage another LAC type of operation and the situation escalate into a shooting, then, the presence of QUAD power in the Arabian Sea will prevent Pakistan from join the Chinese side to capture Kashmir or any other military operations against India. That is where the whole concept of allies is born. India alone can tackle China and Pakistan, individually, but difficult to handle them together without a nuclear war. Hence, if it, the Quad prevents a joint Pakistan & Chinese action then it should be welcomed.