Regional cooperation has never been more important in Asia-Pacific than it is today. As tensions simmer between China and several countries in the region over maritime disputes, many look to regional organizations and alliances for a peaceful resolution. Of these groups, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) have shown remarkable progress in their foreign policy cooperation. In this article, we will explore how they have inched closer together to counter China's aggressive foreign policy in the South China Sea.
It was a day like any other in the South China Sea. Chinese ships had entered the waters of Malaysia, a country with a long-standing dispute over the area. The Malaysian government had seen enough of its sovereignty being challenged by the Chinese. It immediately contacted its ASEAN partners and members of the Quad to help monitor the situation.
The Quad countries - the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, were quick to respond. They offered their navies to conduct joint patrols alongside the Malaysian navy. ASEAN of course welcomed the offer and played coordinator for the patrols, which sent a clear message to China that its attempts to sway the balance of power in the region would not be tolerated.
The cooperation between ASEAN and Quad has not only been in response to security issues in the South China Sea. Both groups have been actively engaging in dialogue and cooperative efforts in other areas as well. For example, in 2018, ASEAN and Quad held a joint technical meeting in Singapore to discuss cyber security. The gathering aimed to examine the issue of cyber warfare and to define what each country deemed unacceptable actions in this realm.
Similarly, the Quad has also provided financial support to ASEAN under the Japan-led Partnership for Quality Infrastructure initiative. The project focused on enhancing connectivity and infrastructure development in Southeast Asian countries, which is one of the goals of the ASEAN Blueprint 2025.
The challenges facing ASEAN and the Quad in their cooperation may differ, but they share one common goal: to counter China's efforts in dominating the region. As China strengthens its military forces and economic presence, countries in the region increasingly feel pressured to align themselves with a united front against China.
ASEAN and the Quad are two organizations that offer an alternative to a China-centric regional order. Through their cooperation, they have been able to show China that the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region will not be tipped in its favor without a challenge.
Curated by Team Akash.Mittal.Blog
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