Analysing the Role of QUAD 2.0 as a Heterarchical Regional Security Complex in Countering the Rise of China

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, involving the USA, Japan, Australia, and India, initially established in the wake of the 2004 Tsunami to coordinate humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, has evolved from a senior-level security dialogue to a leader-level summit since 2017 indicating a shift in its character towards geo-politics in Asia Pacific. The idea behind the metamorphosis of Quad is driven by balancing the rise and influence of China and shaping the regional order, along with promoting quadrilateral cooperation. The fact that China openly rejects the idea of ‘Quad’ and ‘Indo-Pacific’ as merely a US-led strategy to contain its rise, by referring to it as ‘Asian NATO’, highlights the critical role of Quad and is also shaping the internal dynamics within the Quad. This chapter aims to understand the structure of Quad as a Heterarchical Regional Security Complex (HRSC) by exploring the strategies of Quad countries to tackle the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific. It will analyse the geo-political initiatives of Quad in the fields of maritime security (Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness), economic security (Quad Investors Network), and cybersecurity (Quad Cybersecurity Partnership).