Within a week of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Summit on March 12, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited India, Japan, and South Korea, suggesting a swift follow-up. The Summit did not specifically mention China, but Beijing appeared anxious and rattled about the case. It’s  mouthpiece Global Times accused the Quad members of hyping the "China challenge" before the event and stated that India would not follow the US path after the visit due to its own ambition and economic reliance on China.

Quad's call for a free, open, safe Indo-Pacific region that is "anchored by democratic principles and unconstrained by oppression" appears to have provided China with a major challenge to its dream of a China-centric Asia Pacific. After the Quad leaders agreed to issue a joint statement, committed to hosting an in-person leaders' summit by the end of 2021. They agreed to pursue important agendas. Through three based working groups, China's hope that the four-country community hasn't developed a cohesive force from within will need to be revisited.

Apart from consensus on the need for a free, transparent, rules-based order rooted in international law to advance stability and development in the Indo-Pacific and counter threats to both, the main agenda that attracted global attention was the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of organising vaccination efforts for humanity, with India as the manufacturing hub and others assisting to carry out one billion vaccines.

Emerging critical technology and climate change are the other two working group topics. The agenda appears friendly, but Beijing did not overlook the connection between freedom of navigation, overflight, and complaints about China's "aggression" and "coercion" against Quad members. No one specifically mentioned China during the Summit, but China is aware that it defied the rule-based order by overturning the PCA's decision in the South China Sea (SCS) and continues to manipulate countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad's declaration of support for the rule of law, freedom of navigation, overflight, democratic principles, and territorial integrity has angered Beijing, which has begun a propaganda bombardment through its mouthpiece Global Times, branding India (the only non-NATO partner) as a "Negative Asset for BRICS and SCO," oblivious to Chinese goodwill. The Quad's announcement of upcoming naval exercises involving Quad plus countries, as well as the willingness of some NATO members such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to participate in responding to challenges in the Indo-Pacific, has added to China's dissatisfaction.

China would like the world to think that there are significant differences between the four democracies coming together, but Quad appears to be overcoming some of them in the evolution process. Divergent meanings and focus areas are accepted in the Indo-Pacific region. The interoperability of India with other Quad members working within the NATO military alliance structure has strengthened. Thanks to a series of foundational agreements signed by the US and India, including COMCASA, BECA, LEMOA, and CISMOA, as well as naval exercises.

India is the only member of the Quad that has an unresolved land boundary with China. Following the Doklam and Ladakh standoffs, Indians have understood that China cannot be trusted, which has resulted in a more defined Indian stance. Due to each Quad member's economic entanglement with China, a resilient supply chain, digital and technological eco system, and minimal reliance on China are required. There has been agreement on ASEAN's centrality in the Indo-Pacific, but their inclusion would be a controversial issue due to Chinese influence.

China's 'Incremental Encroachment Strategy' in the South China Sea (SCS), the East China Sea (ECS), and Ladakh is a major source of concern for the countries directly affected by unresolved borders, but also for the rest of the world, as China continues to convert features/atolls into military bases, expecting others to accept them as islands and use the UNCLOS-'Baseline III's Principle' to assert.

China seems to be fairly optimistic that the United States or any other nation would not use military action to destroy infrastructure built in SCS. It's also building up its naval capabilities at a breakneck pace. In the Indo-Pacific, Quad members must maintain freedom of navigation exercises and military posture, as China does.

Quad's future plans: COVID-19 vaccines will be produced in India, with funding from the United States and Japan, as well as logistical support from Australia. Quad's strategy to integrate medical, science, financial, manufacturing, essential emerging-technology, and developmental capabilities in the future is a positive move.

While the Summit did not signal extension, it does need the versatility to include like-minded democratic countries in the future, as many would like to join the Quad. Support of countries like France, the UK, Germany and other NATO members, would act as a deterrent to peace breakers. Quad may not be designed to counter Chinese adventurism in its current form, but it appears to be on track to become one of the most powerful tools for doing so.