Evolution of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) In Changing The Dynamics of India-China Relations

: Quad is an important factor for India’s strategic interest towards China. India and China have different aspects towards the maritime diplomacy of Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. The growing port facilities in Indian Ocean Region by China is an important factor towards the foreign policy and geo-political interest of India. The recent port facility in Coco Island of Myanmar builded by China in IOR region is a growing concern for India. At this juncture, India can mitigate China’s influence in Indian Ocean Region with the help of Quad. India also makes its presence in India-Pacific area. So, In my article I wanted to focus on the comparative relationship between India and China regarding the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. Indo-Pacific is quite prominent in towards politics and also Quad makes its important presence in this area. I want to trace India’s Indo-Pacific policy with the help of Quad. How a security dialogue is more important in today’s world is the basic factor of my study.

Region with the help of Quad. The need for such a counterbalance is primarily driven by India's security concerns, China's encirclement policy through port facilities in India's neighborhood-particularly, Gwadar and Hambantota-and the desire to maintain and protect open and free sea lanes of communications against concerns regarding China's choke-point in the South China Sea and increasing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean under the guise of antipiracy operations. Indeed, COVID-19 has enlarged the Quad Framework, allowing key players to take active roles in tackling pressing traditional and non traditional regional challenges. Saji Abraham in the book, China's Role in the Indian Ocean: Its Implications on India's National Security, (New Delhi: Vij Books. 2015) traces that India lies in the centre of the Indian Ocean, which is the third largest water body in the world. With the increasing dependence on import of oil from the Gulf, India has a definite advantage over China since China faces the 'Malacca Dilemma' and disputed South China Sea for energy dependence and protection of the Sea Lanes Of Communication (SLOCs). China's growing transformation in regionally and globally lead to a clash of interests between India and China in the IOR which in the long term may manifest into a military confrontation. Maritime security policy of two Asian giants i.e. India and China and the impact it can have on the regional and global security is covered in this book. David Brewster in the book " India and China at Sea: Competition for Naval Dominance in the Indian Ocean"(New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2018) throws trace on various issues of maritime ambitions, strategic policies and security challenges faced by the leading powers of Asia in the Indian Ocean region. How India and China understand their relations and the bumping up competition between them in the Indian Ocean is the focus of the volume. This book collectively presents a comprehensive and balanced detail on India-China relations with regard to their maritime space and naval dominance in addition to their sensitivities as well. He also talks about the growing influence of China militarily and economically in the Indian Ocean by the means of maritime great game and 'one belt one road' policy. The book is also presenting China's strong Indo-Pacific policy which is a growing concern for India.

Rationale and Scope of the Study:
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is a strategic security dialogue between India, United States, Australia and Japan. The Quad was initiated in 2007 by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discontinued after the withdrawal of Australia under then-prime minister Kevin Rudd. It was revived at a meeting of senior diplomats from the four nations on the side-lines of the ASEAN summit in Manila in November 2017 to maintain a free and open order in the Indo-Pacific. The US National Security Strategy, released in December 2017, states that the Indo-Pacific region 'stretches from the west coast of India to the western shores of the United States' and thereby neatly slices off the western Indian Ocean. The regional map on the cover of the 2017 Australian foreign-policy White Paper highlights an area that extends just far enough to include the westernmost point in India and then arches southwards to exclude much of the western Indian Ocean. The circumstances and changing dynamics of global relation in the world changed the architecture of Quad from the Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific. The four countries want to reduce China's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific region. China is continuously rising its presence in the South China Sea or Indo-Pacific area which is also a growing concern for United States also. United States also want to curb China's policy to secure Indo-Pacific. India also driven to secure its foreign policy with China with the help of Quad mainly with the help of United States. The growth of China's strategic clout in the Indian Ocean Region led India to be a active participant in Quad to trigger the rise of China in Indo-Pacific region. The need for such a counter balance is driven by India's long security concern with China because China led to building port facilities in neighbouring countries of India. Frequently ordered border disputes and the growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean Region also make India to make a strong bond with United States and Japan to counter balance China. India can rise as a great power status and project its influence beyond the Indo-Pacific with the help of Quad.

Current scenario of Indo-China confrontation in Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region:
Maritime diplomacy includes spectrum of activities, from co-operative measures such as port visits, exercises and humanitarian assistance to persuasive deployment, confrontation and coercion. In the 21 st century, China and India is more engaged in maritime diplomacy using soft and hard power. Chinese research and survey vessel docking at Hambantota in Sri Lanka helps to gather vital information in the region. Also the recent construction of a military facility on Coco Islands of Myanmar which located very close to India's Andaman and Nicobar island chain is a major diplomatic showdown between India and China. At this juncture, India wants to secure IOR region by growing its influence in India-Pacific region. In 2017, the upgradation of Quad into Quad plus is a major aspect of this strategic interest. The first Quad plus meeting held with the representatives of South Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam. It's basically started for curbing COVID 19 pandemic for helping other nations in need. The Quad members take the shared vision of free and open Indo-Pacific and rule based maritime order in East and South China Sea to counter Chinese claims in maritime areas. But China is continuously rises it's maritime order and this is high time for the Quad to keep the Indo-Pacific intact from Chinese claims. China convened a first "China-Indian Ocean Region Forum" bringing together 19 countries from the region, and all of India's neighbors, except India. It proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in Indian Ocean region. For this India with its rising naval capabilities has to look beyond the east of Malacca. And the Quad would become inevitably significant in India's broader maritime strategy in the present scenario. The 4 th edition of Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue also happened which manifests Navy's engagement at the strategic-level. IPRD seeks to foster exchange of ideas and promote deliberations on regionally relevant maritime issues. It is a Track 1.5 event having a balanced representation from government and non-government agencies and institutions.

Quad and India:
China wants to exert its influence over the Indo Pacific region by displacing the position of India in the region and has plans to encircle India through its "String of Pearls". It also has meticulous plans to displace the position of USA in world order. India-US engagement in the QUAD group is also an irritant to China. China has been aggressive in the region. For instance, issues with Southeast Asian nations with respect to South China Sea. China considers India as its 'Asian Rival' which possesses the inherent capacity to halt its Hegemonic ambitions in Asia. India's China challenge, regional and global aspirations, and increasing role in multilateral forum and a growing acceptance of reliance on U.S. cooperation in these spheres ensure the two countries will continue to find convergence in the long term. India and United States enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests on a range of issues, and vibrant people-to-people contacts helps to counter balance China. India has a long, unsettled border with China that is subject to periodic tensions. Japan similarly has been facing pressure from China in the East China Sea. The signing and implementation of the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2011 accelerated economic relations. Along with Australia, both countries launched Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) in 2021 to reduce the dominance of China in the Indo-Pacific region. Both are strategically aligned in the Indo-Pacific and have thus expanded their cooperation in multilateral organizations like QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). Japan plans to integrate Northeast India with rest of Southeast Asia under plan of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

Conclusion :
Going forward, the Government of India could consider devoting some diplomatic capital to negotiate possible solutions to avoid sanctions particularly when it impacts India's energy and maritime security while maintaining its strategic relationship with U.S, Japan and Australia . India expects greater openness from these countries to cooperation and understanding of Indian needs in emerging areas and to secure IOR region and Indo-Pacific area. There is also a need for deeper appreciation of Indian values that emanate from India's own unique history and politics.