Quad Naval Power Posing Strong in Front of the Red Giant China

India has once again given reason to worry to its giant neighbor China. India has once again joined hands with its fellow Quad nations to start a powerful naval exercise called Malabar.

India, Japan, the USA, and Australia are members of the Quadrilateral nations aimed at increasing Indo-Pacific security. This time, Australia is hosting the Malabar exercise for the first time. This 10-day exercise will take place from August 11 to August 21, 2023.

This year will mark the 27th year of the exercise. Hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, the exercise will be conducted in 2 phases. The first is the Harbor phase consisting of wide-ranging activities such as cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures, and several interactions for planning and conducting the Sea Phase. The next is the Sea Phase, which will include various complex and high-intensity exercises in all three domains of warfare, encompassing anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine exercises, including live weapon firing drills.

Indian Navy's 2 indigenous developed frontline warships, INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata will participate in the exercise along with the US Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The Indian warships are capable of detecting threats underwater, in the air, and on the surface and neutralizing them through sensors and an array of weapons.

What is an exercise?

A military exercise or defense exercise is basically a practice done by a country to test their abilities, to test the machinery, to increase the knowledge of defense personnel on how to perform certain actions, and to test new strategies and coordination. Military exercises use actual weapons as they would in wartime to prepare for real combat. All three forces regularly indulge in exercises to keep themselves up to par. Military exercises are conducted to practice the war preparedness of the force as well as to practice planning of operations.

Bilateral military exercises and multilateral military exercises

When 2 countries perform an exercise, it's called bilateral, and when more than 2 countries engage in a military exercise, it's called a multilateral exercise. Friendly nations come together to participate in joint military exercises. These countries share knowledge about best practices and tactics.

Apart from this reason, joint exercises have a covert meaning or purpose, and that is to show the improved relations between countries and to showcase their military power and capabilities in the world.

Malabar exercise

Started as a bilateral exercise in 1992 between India and the USA, Australia joined the exercise in 2007 but later withdrew after facing opposition from China. Japan joined the exercise in 2015, and Australia returned in 2020 during a time when India was facing challenges on the border front with China during the Galwan Valley conflict. The Malabar exercise has been conducted in the Philippine Sea, the East China Sea, and with Australia hosting this year, the exercise is conducted in the Pacific Ocean as well.

These 4 nations form a Quadrilateral alliance, popularly called the Quad. The objective of the Quad is to have a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. They want to ensure that the strategic routes of the Indo-Pacific are free from any military influence and domination from any third party. The Quad leaders have also shared thoughts on cybersecurity, climate change, health space, and others.

China and Quad

Commenting on the Malabar exercise of 2023, Chinese media called out the exercise as a paper tiger and will not be effective during tense times. The Quad and Malabar exercise sends out a strong signal to China, who wants to increase its influence in the Bay of Bengal specifically and the Indo-Pacific as a whole. Against the backdrop of the ongoing cold war between China and the USA, and the deteriorated relations of China with Japan, Australia, and India, the Quad serves as a strong point of tension for China. The Quad is also seen as an alliance that is trying to contain the growing military and economic power of China.

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