India is rather too cautious on the Quad

India is rather too cautious on the Quad

News: The article discusses the importance of Quad and the issue of India’s refusal to include Australia in Malabar Exercise.

Facts:

Malabar Exercise:

• India has once again decided to reject Australia’s participation in the Malabar naval exercises.
• Malabar exercise is conducted between India, US and Japan. Japan became a permanent member of these exercises in 2015.

Quad Grouping:

• Quad is an informal security grouping comprising India, US, Japan and Australia.
• Although Japan, US and Australia highlight Quad as a counter to Chinese aggression in Indo-Pacific but India has refused to accept this strategy officially who considers Quad to be separate from Indo-Pacific Region.
• Post-Wuhan summit between India and China, India has given less attention to Quad in order to avoid antagonizing China.
• Based on similar intentions, India has also downplayed suggestions from the US to elevate the Quad dialogue to foreign secretary level from the current setup of joint secretary level talks.

India’s refusal to include Australia in Malabar:

• Quad was originated in 2007 by India, US, Japan and US but it was disbanded later when Australia decided to quit the group in 2008 considering its relations with China.
• India is not sure that the current tensions between Australia and China, based on which Australia seeks an entry into Malabar, will outlast for long and Australia may leave the group eventually.
• Inclusion of Australia into Malabar will turn Malabar Exercise into Quad naval exercise as all Quad members will be part of the exercise and this may invite Chinese antagonism.

Why India should include Australia into Malabar?

• China’s sensitivities is a one-way street as Beijing doesn’t respect New Delhi’s sensitivities in return. Including Australia into Malabar exercise will send out a political message to China.
• Stronger Malabar will also send a much needed message to other countries in Southeast Asia which are afraid to confront China on their own.
• The idea of Quad owes itself to the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Hence inclusion of Australia will add more vigour and capability of Malabar in attending to natural disasters in the region.