[News Terms] What Is the 'Quad,' a Cooperation Partner in the Indo-Pacific Strategy?

Leaders of the Quad security dialogue consisting of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia waved to the press in front of their national flags on May 24 at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo, Japan, ahead of the Quad summit. From left to right: Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia; Joe Biden, President of the United States; Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan; Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The 'Quad,' mentioned as a 'comprehensive security cooperation partner' in the 'Free, Peaceful, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Strategy' announced by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration on the 28th, is a security consultation body composed of four countries: the United States, Australia, India, and Japan. The name is derived from the first letter of 'quadruple,' meaning 'four.'

Japan, feeling threatened by China's expansion, announced the 'Indo-Pacific Strategy' in 2013 to keep the United States engaged in the Indo-Pacific region, but the U.S. response was lukewarm. In response, in August 2016, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan introduced an expanded version of the Indo-Pacific Strategy called the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' (FOIP) strategy.

The FOIP strategy aims to counter the ambitious 'Belt and Road Initiative' (一帶一路) promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping since he took office in 2012. The U.S.-led 'Quad' can be seen as part of the FOIP strategy. After its first meeting in 2007, the Quad was dormant for nine years before being revived in 2017. In August 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Steven Biegun announced plans to formalize the Quad as a multilateral security alliance similar to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

The revival of the Quad was driven by the Trump administration's recognition of the need to check China in the Indo-Pacific region. The first Quad summit was held in March 2021, elevating it to a summit-level meeting, and member countries have voiced a united stance against China through summit meetings and joint military exercises in the Indian Ocean.

It is known that the United States requested South Korea to join during the Moon Jae-in administration, but South Korea did not join the Quad considering its relationship with China. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration announced plans to gradually pursue joining the Quad, but the U.S. has been indifferent.

Despite this situation, the Yoon administration is attempting to embrace China through its Indo-Pacific strategy. Unlike the U.S. FOIP strategy, the Indo-Pacific strategy announced by the government on this day does not include measures to check China. The Presidential Office stated that it is an "inclusive plan that does not target or exclude any specific country." The Quad is also considering a 'Quad Plus' that would include South Korea, New Zealand, and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.