The North Pacific species of albatross patrols the seas around Japan, the United States and China, while the smaller yellow-nosed albatross (scientific name: thalassarche carteri) rides the winds from the Indian Ocean down to Australia.
Birds live beyond frontiers but humans are accustomed to borders. In the political realm, a particularly stark divide exists between China and other Asian lands. This was evident at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quad countries – India, the USA, Australia and Japan – which took place in Tokyo on July 29th.
The ministers presented a vision of “a region in which no country dominates and no country is dominated.” India’s foreign minister, Dr S Jaishankar hailed the Quad nations as natural partners, sharing similar democratic political systems, pluralistic societies and market economies.
“That by itself is a powerful stabilising factor in an uncertain and volatile world,” said Dr Jaishankar. Diplomats used their skill with words to try to prevent the tone of the meeting sounding too confrontational towards China. They therefore softened the language in the joint communique and at the press conference. Nevertheless, the implication was clear: Xi Jinping is out of step with the other major powers of the Indo-Pacific region. Cooperation is the best way to counter him.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised the immense defence power of the bloc. He said the Quad countries would bolster maritime security and protect undersea cables, which are vulnerable to Chinese sabotage.On the economic front, representatives spoke of “resilient infrastructure” based on “debt sustainability”. This was presented as a better alternative to China’s Belt and Road initiative, which has been criticised for its lack of transparency and its tendency to create unsustainable debt burdens. Quad ministers urged financiers “to promote infrastructure projects that are open, transparent, accountable, and economically efficient.”
Furthermore, the group signalled its willingness to invest in critical technologies – such as advanced microprocessors – in order to reduce reliance on Chinese-based supply chains.
The Quad’s foreign ministers discussed the difficult task of changing the structure of the United Nations’ security council. China has held a permanent place on that panel since the end of WWII. In recent years, its representatives have been at almost constant loggerheads with America and its allies on a range of issues, including the Ukraine war and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Diplomats from Australia, the US and Japan would much rather that China was replaced on the UN security council by India – although this would meet fierce resistance from China’s supporters, especially Russia.
Reform of the UN seems a long way off. Nevertheless, this week’s Quad meeting in Tokyo has underscored the determination of its members to act in unison on important issues. The ministers agreed to further promote joint efforts in cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and disaster relief.
The two female foreign ministers – Japan’s Yoko Kamiwaka and Australia’s Penny Wong – stressed the importance of giving women a greater voice in discussions about security and foreign policy. It is intriguing to consider that the next Quad meeting could be held with a female president in the White House.
Summing up his experience in Japan on Monday, Dr Jaishankar said “this is not a talk shop but a platform that generates practical outcomes.” He insisted that the Quad is hugely helpful in guiding the foreign policies of all its members.
That is no doubt a cause of frustration for China. But for India and its partners, it is a reminder that benefits tend to flow when trusted partners are willing to cooperate.
Duncan Bartlett is a Research Associate at the SOAS China Institute (UK) where he presents the weekly podcast, China In Context.
