The world has long recognized the commercial importance of the Indo-Pacific region. Ships that transport goods from one destination to another through the region’s sea channels carry out their long voyages in an atmosphere of security and confidence.
However, the waterways and security of the threatened region has become a source of concern for the countries of the region, especially when an authoritarian power threatens the right to freedom of navigation.
This required democratic nations in general, and those with special interests in the Indian Ocean or the South Sea region in particular, to consider collective action aimed at ensuring peace and normalcy in the peaceful Indian region so that trade and commerce could take place without hindrance. . .
This necessity led to the formation of Quad-4, which means four major democracies in the region (India, Australia and Japan) plus the United States of America with large stakes in the Indo-Pacific.
Although Quad-4 had humble beginnings, its programs were not precisely defined – even questionable at one point – many cobwebs were gradually removed and the importance of the alliance became an established fact.
The members of the Quartet meet annually, according to a schedule established by the General Secretariat, to deliberate on the current security situation in the region or regions concerned.
Although the security of the region and its navigational channels is the main concern of the alliance, the alliance is not opposed to cooperation between member states in other areas of development and economic stability.
The importance of the Quad is highlighted when we see China acting aggressively and aggressively, especially in the case of small island states. Over the past two decades, China has emerged as a major economic power that has gained influence in the Asian and African continents.
It also casts an authoritarian shadow over countries in Southeast Asia, including Japan and Australia.
The Chinese Navy, called the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army, is dangerously prowling the Indian Ocean. Recently, a Chinese ship anchored near the Bay of Bengal for about a month, spying on ships and their contents as they moved through the waters.
The security situation along the Indo-Chinese border across the Himalayan line is normal. From the Indochina War of 1962 to the present day, the Sino-Indian border stretching for thousands of miles has been hot and turbulent.
Recently, there have been skirmishes on the borders of Tawang Arunachal. This is the result of China’s expansionist policy, whether in India, Taiwan, Japan or Australia. China wants to consolidate its hegemony either with money or with muscle power.
Japan and Australia, powerful democracies, lie in the vicinity of southeast China. They have been trying to trade and have normal relations with China for a long time. But the Chinese response has not been encouraging at all.
Today we find two democracies, Japan and Canada, openly expressing their disappointment with the way China wants to treat them. Although Canada is not a member of Quad-4, its interests are closely linked to those of the other four democracies in the world.
Japan and Canada recently adopted their annual budgets. Interesting to learn about the worldview between the two countries with particular reference to China.
First, we are talking about Japan. In an analysis, The Diplomat wrote on December 17 that Japan was a milestone in efforts to reshape its defense strategy, increase national defense spending and allow Tokyo to obtain an anti-missile capability.
On December 16, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s cabinet approved the country’s three major security documents, which would mark a major shift in Japan’s postwar policy of maintaining an exclusively defense-oriented policy if implemented.
Japan is on its way to returning to a “normal country” in the long term by allowing the country to possess – and possibly use – offensive capabilities to strike enemy missile bases in the event of an armed attack on Tokyo.
“Tokyo is in the midst of the most difficult and complex security environment since World War II,” the newspaper wrote, referring to the new National Security Strategy (NSS), which headlines the three documents.
On December 16, the Japanese Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Kishida approved three documents titled National Security Strategy (NSS), National Defense Strategy (NDS), and Defense Strengthening Program (DBP).
In the introduction to the NSS — which is by far the most important policy document — she said: “ As part of the vision for an Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), it is extremely important for Japan’s security to cooperate with allies and like-minded countries to ensure peace and stability in the region. »
The countries mentioned in the NSS are the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries, among others.
The DBP document would see Japan’s defense spending rise to 43 trillion yen ($314 billion) from fiscal year 2023 to 2027. That’s a 56.5% increase from 27.47 trillion from the current five-year plan, which covers fiscal year 2019 to 2023.
This will increase Japan’s defense spending to the NATO level of 2% of national GDP in 2027 – Kishida instructed the defense and finance ministers to do so in late November.
The main focus of the three security documents is how to deal with a rising China. How will Japan defend itself against China’s rapid military rise? What defense capability and what defense budget will Japan need to counter China?
These are the basic questions behind the documentation, although they are not explicitly mentioned there.
The updated language of the NSS describes China as Japan’s “biggest strategic challenge”, while the 2013 version of the NSS describes China’s actions as “of concern to the international community”.
Let us now examine Canadian perceptions of China as revealed by Dr.Regarding relations with China, Canada’s budget document states:
The strategy calls for national measures to strengthen cyber security and protection against intellectual property theft, and internationally, to work closely with the Five Eyes, NATO and international institutions to monitor and respond to China’s assertion. »
Departing from the previous approach — coexistence, cooperation, competition and challenge — the new strategy claims Ottawa will “rival China when we must, cooperate when we must”.
The blatant language in China is very different from the participatory vocabulary of the past 50 years. Today, China is described as authoritarian and oppressive, an “increasingly destabilizing global power” that is undermining the rules-based international order and threatening Canadian interests and values.
It builds on specific measures already taken, including the ban on Huawei 5G, the rejection of Chinese investment in strategic minerals, the Uyghur genocide resolution in the House of Commons, public criticism of Hong Kong’s security law and the recent announcement of consultations on a potential foreign agent. register.
Finally, the budget appropriations passed by Canadian lawmakers also show the country’s seriousness in providing the necessary subsidies to offset Chinese provocation or aggression.
Here is a brief summary of the budget fines: Items costing C$750 million (US$549 million) for liquidated infrastructure projects thanks to a new US-led G7 agreement worth C$550 million (US$40.3 million) to bolster the military presence. , including a third frigate in the Indian Ocean and increased participation in regional military exercises, and C$225 million (US$165 million) to improve public safety and cybersecurity at home and in the Southeast.
In the final analysis, it is heartening to know that a serious realization is beginning to emerge in major democracies around the world that the threats and challenges of authoritarian and aggressive forces must be confronted and defeated collectively.
Each unit in the collective forum shall maximize its defensive offensive capability in the three domains of land, air and sea. However, the world expects China to understand its perceptions and rebuild its strategies that help maintain peace and improve life in developing countries.