{"id":21458,"date":"2015-07-09T06:00:31","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T20:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=21458"},"modified":"2015-07-08T20:12:24","modified_gmt":"2015-07-08T10:12:24","slug":"the-not-quite-quadrilateral-australia-japan-and-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/the-not-quite-quadrilateral-australia-japan-and-india\/","title":{"rendered":"The not-quite-quadrilateral: Australia, Japan and India"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>Trilateralism is on the rise across the Asia\u2013Pacific as states seek safety in numbers, diversifying their relations in response to an increasingly uncertain regional security environment. On 8\u00a0June 2015, senior foreign affairs officials from Australia, Japan and India, including secretary-level representatives,\u00a0gathered in New Delhi<\/a> to explore how the three nations might work together to meet shared regional challenges; maritime security topped the agenda.<\/p>\n The three countries last cooperated on security matters alongside the US in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), which wrapped up in 2008 at the behest of Australia\u2019s newly elected Rudd government due to concern about China\u2019s reaction. That the three have now reconvened security-focused discussions (with potential spin-off naval activities) speaks not only to a shared understanding of China\u2019s rise and the challenges of regional security, but also to their collective willingness to play a greater role in Asia\u2013Pacific security matters.<\/p>\n Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a deep personal chemistry. Both are conservative, nationalist, pro-business leaders who came to power pledging to rejuvenate their flagging economies and restore national pride. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is cut from similar cloth, and has quickly built close relations with his Japanese and Indian counterparts.<\/p>\n Beyond personal qualities and close relationships at the head-of-state level, there\u2019s a growing alignment of interests, values and concerns among Australia, Japan and India. All share an interest in preserving a peaceful and stable regional order and avoiding a Pax Sinica<\/em>. All value democracy, freedom and the rule of law. And all are concerned by China\u2019s military build-up, defiance of international law and norms, and increasingly assertive attempts to unilaterally force a shift in the regional status quo.<\/p>\n