Checking China: What is the Quad Coalition?
09.18.23
Leaders of the “Quad” — the United States, India, Australia and Japan — met in Tokyo, cementing an alliance designed to counter China’s push across the Asia-Pacific region.
Leaders of the “Quad” — the United States, India, Australia and Japan — met in Tokyo on Tuesday, cementing an alliance designed to counter China’s push across the Asia-Pacific region.
The grouping has risen and fallen in prominence over the years, but gained new traction following deadly border clashes between India and China in 2020, and a recent surge in Australian diplomatic and commercial confrontations with Beijing.
Members stress it is not an “Asian NATO”, and portray it as a group that can offer others in the region an alternative to China in areas including Covid-19 resources, disaster relief and cybersecurity.
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The Era Of ‘Tech Diplomacy’ Is Here
Technology is the new frontier of international relations. The interaction is bi-directional: technology is defining diplomatic matters while diplomacy is also influencing the development and deployment of technology. Take semiconductors as an example. This is a technology that forms the foundation of digital economy, national security, and productivity in almost all industries. Global supply chain in the semiconductor industry is shaping U.S. foreign policy. Conversely, America’s diplomatic effort has been redefining the supply chain. Tech diplomacy is different from science diplomacy, which became a key pillar for the U.S. and other countries since World War II. Scientists participated in treaty negotiations, engaged in bilateral summits and served as attachés at embassies. Primary topics included nuclear proliferation, super-collider construction, human space exploration and environmental science.