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Chapter 4
Analysis and Recommendations
It augments the perceived role of defence spending to challenge China
India in the region, which was again seriously, and is counting on the US
emphasized by the need of working to defend it. Japan is afraid of being
together with partners, highlighting ‘strategic abandoned by the US. Quad is therefore,
partnership with India’ to ‘address shared likely to work hand in glove strategically
challenges and advance a shared vision’, with the US under its security umbrella but
Implications to ASEAN
especially in Indo-Pacific. President the members are also likely to contribute
Biden’s first official multilateral meeting in economic terms.
held virtually, was with the other leaders
of the Quad, which signifies the desire to QUAD Plus
work with like-minded partners and allies
to counter the repressive China. US and There is a potential to expand
the Quad Participants were of the opinion Quad to ‘Quad Plus’, with the inclusion of
Evolving Geo-Strategic Matrix in South China Sea:
that Quad was a good and important idea traditional US allies; the UK and France.
34 for building and reinforcing Indo-Pacific Both these countries have shown interest
partnerships. They agreed that the region in playing an active role in the region.
seemed more like a big zone with an Lately, UK has engaged in Indo-Pacific
uncoordinated efforts of small nations, in the freedom of navigation operations
with some overlapping bilateral and (FONOPs) and its cross training programs
trilateral partnerships. with Japan. It is also active in reviving the
Five Power Defence Agreements (FPDA)
However, there are important between the UK, Australia, New Zealand,
aspects to be viewed in this backdrop. Malaysia and Singapore, which will surely
The US relationship India are developing increase its clout in the region. However,
but state of India’s economy and military, on economic front, China had invested
calls for less expectations against China. heavily in the UK which might affect
US-Australia relations are deep and solid the UK’s ability to work with the US
but Australia sits on the periphery of the strategically. On the other hand, French
region. Japan has not increased its President Emmanuel Macron has been
