The Quad grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States has more policy space to undertake maritime security activities in Southeast Asia than policymakers often assume, according to a study published on 13 October by the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. By carefully tailoring the type of activity, regional participation configurations, and geographic locations, the partners can expand security cooperation without rattling regional states.
Expanding Maritime Security Without Ruffling ASEAN
The informal Quad grouping has consistently maintained that it does not seek to supplant the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as the region’s primary international organization. Yet, individual Southeast Asian nations assess the security efforts of the Quad based on their own specific and unique priorities. Their perceptions are not automatically opposed to military cooperation, nor are they uniform across nations.
According to the Hoover Institution study, Southeast Asian approaches vary according to three primary factors within Quad control: the type of security activity considered, the countries leading the initiative, and the geographic location of the operations. Capacity-building initiatives and maritime domain awareness programs face the least resistance, while combined combat exercises encounter greater scrutiny.
A new essay by Hoover Distinguished Visiting Fellow @MarisePayne and coauthors @LHHiep, Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma, and Sarah Teo explores Southeast Asian perspectives on Quad-driven maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.It evaluates regional perceptions of Quad…
Targeted Security Activities and Regional Sensitivity
Southeast Asian states are most likely to welcome initiatives that deliver tangible benefits or capacity-building without generating the risk of an arms race or reprisals from Beijing. Efforts to develop sophisticated maritime domain awareness fall into this low-sensitivity category. Programs such as the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and the newer Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration are designed to aggregate a rich picture of illicit activities on the high seas.
Similarly, regional states are unlikely to oppose Quad initiatives that further develop capabilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The Quad has inaugurated and begun to exercise its Indo-Pacific Logistics Network to rapidly move personnel and supplies. Conversely, military activities designed to build combined combat capabilities meet the most resistance, though countries like the Philippines already engage in deep military cooperation alongside the US, Japan, and Australia.
Flexible Configurations and Geographic Placement
The configuration of participating countries shapes regional attitudes. Not every initiative requires all four Quad members. The United States brings the most militarily capable Quad partner but also risks eliciting a sharp Chinese response. In contrast, India lacks a sustained presence in maritime Southeast Asia east of the Malacca Strait, meaning India-led initiatives generate fewer political repercussions for risk-sensitive nations like Vietnam.
Geography also dictates reception. Most Southeast Asian countries view Quad activities in the contested waters of the South China Sea as highly contentious. The Indian Ocean, however, offers a much less controversial field for testing and exercising military cooperation. The Quad has already recognized this dynamic by piloting its surveillance collaboration program in the Indian Ocean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Southeast Asian countries view Quad security activities differently?
National priorities unique to each Southeast Asian government shape how they evaluate the security actions undertaken by the Quad. Their responses range from the Philippines’ openness to deeper defense ties to Vietnam’s preference for lower-profile cooperation.
What role does India play in Quad maritime initiatives?
India lacks a sustained naval presence east of the Malacca Strait, which allows it to lead certain security and capacity-building initiatives with fewer political repercussions for risk-sensitive regional states that fear provoking Beijing.
Where are Quad maritime surveillance programs currently tested?
The Quad has piloted its Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration program in the Indian Ocean, a geographic area far removed from competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.