The Quad, a strategic security grouping created to maintain peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region, is facing a major challenge from an informal, unnamed alliance led by China, especially in recent months. Following the chronology of events in the lead up to and beyond the latest Quad summit in the United States.
The Quad, short for quadrilateral, is a grouping that includes India, the United States, Japan and Australia. This group was formed with the aim of maintaining security and freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The Quad was first established in 2007, but ceased to exist in 2008 following Australia’s withdrawal. The group was founded in 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then US President Donald Trump, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
China, which views the group as a threat to its expansionist policies in the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions, is now leading an informal, unnamed grouping to counter the Quad. This group includes China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Russia, which is facing isolation from the West, especially the United States and most of Europe, due to the Ukraine war, finds itself in a situation where it is heavily dependent on China economically as well as selectively for arms supplies. Is more dependent. Iran and North Korea also find themselves under heavy US sanctions and find themselves largely dependent on China.
Beijing, which aims to replace the United States as the leading global power, is leading its assertive, aggressive and expansionist policies by taking advantage of the allies that depend on it.
The chronology of provocative incidents by China to send a message to the Quad is as follows:
Message to the United States
China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from its territory in the Pacific Ocean on September 25, the first such test since the 1980s. The launch came days after the annual Quad Leaders Summit was held in Delaware, US. The ICBM can reportedly hit any location in the US in less than 30 minutes.
Beijing has downplayed the incident, calling the test “routine”, the first in 44 years.
China’s Ministry of National Defense, or MND, said, “The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) launched a dummy weapon-carrying ICBM into the high seas in the Pacific Ocean at 08:44 a.m. on September 25, and the missile hit the expected maritime areas.” “This test launch this fall is a routine arrangement in our annual training plan, is consistent with international law and international practice, and is not directed against any country or target.”
The missile struck the intended target near the exclusive economic zone of French Polynesia, not far from the Marquesas Islands. China sent its Yuan Wang 5 tracking ship near the landing site to collect data. New Zealand described ICBM testing as “undesirable and developmentally concerning”. The US Air Force also deployed an RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft to collect optical and electronic data on the missile and about halfway along its flight path.
The desired target of the ICBM was 12,000 km from the launch site. The distance between China’s Hainan Island and America’s Los Angeles is just 12,100 km. China therefore effectively demonstrated its ability to reach the US with this type of nuclear weapon in less than 30 minutes. Beijing’s new DF-41 has an even longer range.
This latest provocative test comes at a time of rising tensions with neighbors such as Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry immediately tweeted, “The PLA’s first ICBM launch in 44 years exposes the regime’s expansionist ambitions and malicious nature. Taiwan strongly condemns the PRC for its reckless moves destabilizing the region and calls for restraint from China.” Urges to take action and stop all actions that undermine global peace.” “Peace efforts.” This was more than a routine test. China was sending a signal that was intimidating, Teipei said.
China signed an agreement with Russia in 2009 under which each side would inform the other about ballistic missile launches, but so far China has rejected all such suggestions of a similar mechanism with the US.
message to japan
On September 21 – the day the Quad summit was held in the US – China launched joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan. “A joint contingent of warships of the Pacific Fleet and the Chinese Navy departed from Vladivostok to conduct the joint Russian-Chinese “Beibu/Interaction – 2024″ naval exercises,” Russia’s Pacific Fleet had said, adding that the naval exercises would include anti- Opponents will join. Anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons.
Two days after joint naval exercises near Japan, Tokyo protested a major provocation by Moscow when a Russian patrol plane entered Japan’s airspace – not once, not twice, but three times. Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara had said, “We have today confirmed that a Russian Il-38 patrol aircraft has violated our airspace in our territorial waters north of Rabun Island, Hokkaido, on three occasions.”
Japan had deployed its F-35 fighter planes to warn the Russian army. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Japan had previously deployed its F-15 and F-35 fighter planes to warn Russian forces over radio during the two airspace violations. Eventually the third incursion forced Japanese Air Force jets to resort to firing flares. It also prompted Tokyo to call on Moscow through diplomatic channels to ensure that such provocations do not happen again. The Russian government has not commented on the air incursion.
A similar incident had occurred a month earlier in August, when Japan had to ground its air force jets after Chinese military aircraft entered its airspace. Tokyo warned Beijing, calling it a “serious violation of our sovereignty.”
Vladimir Putin said the China-Russia joint naval exercises were “the largest of its kind in three decades”.
Following these China-backed provocations, Japan, Australia and New Zealand sent a strong message to Beijing as their naval ships passed through the Taiwan Strait. JS Sazanami, a destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and one naval vessel each from Australia and New Zealand – HMAS Sydney (DDG 42) and HMNZS Endeavor (A11) – transited the Taiwan Strait. Such an incident was reported for the first time by Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
China reportedly sent five of its naval ships close to the Australian and New Zealand ships and carried out surveillance activity.
Regarding the incident in Japan, Beijing issued a statement through its Foreign Office spokesperson, saying, “China’s response to the Japanese Maritime SDF ship passing through the Taiwan Strait: The Taiwan question is a red line that cannot be crossed. Japan must honor its commitment and be prudent on this issue, and not cause disturbance to China-Japan relations and cross-Strait peace.”
Challenge to freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean
China, Russia and Iran have also increased their cooperation and activities in West Asia (Middle East). Last year, Beijing brokered an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, highlighting its presence in the Middle East. Both Beijing and Moscow have also condemned the killing of Iran-backed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah while standing up to Israel.
Russia and Iran are also reportedly negotiating terms to arm the Houthis in Yemen, who are targeting merchant shipping vessels in and around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. However, reports suggest that they are not targeting Chinese and Russian ships. With the increase in the number of attacks by the Houthis, this poses a major threat to freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean.
Flames and smoke rise from an oil tanker attacked by Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea. (Photo: Reuters)
Iran-backed and Yemen-based Houthi militants have attacked and hijacked ships in the region for several months, disrupting global trade and maritime operations. These incidents are increasing amid Israel’s ongoing war against Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.
According to the US Maritime Administration, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, resulting in casualties, seized ships and disruption of global trade routes. The campaign has forced shipping companies to seek alternative routes, affecting about 12 percent of global trade through the Red Sea.
north korea threat
Over the past few months, North Korea, which is reportedly backed by Beijing, has fired several ballistic missiles at the US, Japan and South Korea.
The projectiles are believed to have fallen into the sea. The development comes in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a uranium enrichment facility in mid-September.
US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that it is “aware of Pyongyang’s ballistic missile launches and is consulting closely with South Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners”.
(Photo credit: Reuters)
“The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing actions. However, we have assessed that this incident does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or the region, or our allies. “We continue to monitor the situation,” it said in a statement.
A New York Times report said US President Joe Biden had approved a classified document in March this year ordering the US military to prepare for a possible coordinated nuclear confrontation with Russia, China and North Korea Was.
Amid these developments, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said that Japan is facing its “most serious” regional security situation in the post-World War II era. “The security environment around our country is the most serious since the end of World War II,” he said in his first speech as prime minister last month.
