The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) Summit to be held in Sydney in May next year must focus on China’s growing expansionist and aggressive agenda. Over the past few months, there has been a noticeable increase in aggressive activities by Beijing in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean Region and, of course, along the borders (Line of Actual Control) with India. The recent clashes between the Chinese and Indian soldiers are an indication about Beijing’s plan to repeat such confrontations in future. Some other geographies of the world have also witnessed China’s attempt to grow influence. This must come as a warning signal for the entire international community. Therefore, all the four member countries of the Quad—India, the US, Australia and Japan— must start working on finalising an agenda so that the China factor could be at the heart of the group’s summit next year. In what can be viewed as a positive development in this regard, India has already initiated a diplomatic campaign to ensure that China is under sharp focus during the Quad summit. New Delhi has reportedly asked diplomats to be in touch with their counterparts in the US, Australia and Japan to make a comprehensive strategy for the Quad summit so as to cover China’s assertiveness prominently. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has selected his home-town Sidney for hosting the QUAD summit mid-2023. US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will travel to Sydney to attend the summit. Chinese belligerence in the Indo-Pacific and aggressive behavior against all four democratic countries must be on top of the agenda when these leaders discuss the global issues there. With volatility and uncertainty sweeping across the globe, this summit will be quite important as it will affect the geopolitics and security of the Indo-Pacific region. The Ukraine conflict and sanctions against Russia will definitely be discussed at the Summit prominently. But the leaders must not allow the Ukraine conflict to overshadow the challenges being posed by China. The US has signalled that the focus will be on China as well particularly in terms of the Taiwan issue. But India’s efforts must be to see that China’s aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is also discussed at length. The Quad leaders must review and improve the joint strategy to deal with challenges from China. A stronger message must be sent out to Beijing from Sydney. Some analysts may ask why China’s aggressive behaviour at LAC should be one of the key agendas during the Quad summit whose focus remains on only the IndoPacific regions. Nothing explains it better than what External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said after the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Australia this year. He said that the current situation at the LAC has arisen due to the disregard of written agreements by China not to mass soldiers at the border. At a press conference, Jaishankar further said that when a large country (China) disregards written commitments, it’s an issue of legitimate concern for the entire international community. He was referring to the eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries at that time. Now, the fresh development has taken place in the Tawang sector where the Chinese PLA’s soldiers clashed with the Indian army personnel. New Delhi is keen to raise China’s aggressive behaviour and illegal activities at the international forum. The Biden administration had pledged support to India over border clashes with China. Washington accused Beijing of being provocative towards US allies and its partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Surely, the Quad summit will be an appropriate forum not only to discuss the growing Chinese assertive activities but also to formulate some concrete strategy to deal with it more effectively than before. The summit in Sydney would provide a much-needed opportunity to all the leaders of the Quad nations to seriously discuss the China factor. Before the summit, India will be hosting the QUAD foreign ministers’ meet in New Delhi as dates are being worked out. Needless to say, India will use this upcoming interaction to set the agenda for the summit. And, the agenda will, certainly, be Chinese aggressive activities.
