Quad and ASEAN Forge Closer Ties: A New Chapter in Regional Security

The Quad (Japan, US, Australia, India) has taken a significant step towards strengthening cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). On July 23, on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Manila, foreign ministers from the Quad issued their first dedicated joint statement on cooperation with ASEAN. This signifies the Quad's positioning of ASEAN as a "Comprehensive Strategic Partner" and its focus on the "practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)." The statement outlined four broad areas of cooperation: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. This move is seen as a response to criticisms that the Quad has avoided engaging with regional countries due to concerns about provoking China. Issuing a statement directly on cooperation with ASEAN in Manila, where the Quad was revived in 2017, can be interpreted as a clear message to Beijing. On the other hand, ASEAN's acceptance of the Quad's engagement in the region is also significant. Given China's accusations of the Quad being an "Asian NATO" and ASEAN's historical efforts to avoid becoming a theater for great power rivalry, ASEAN's positive stance towards engaging with the Quad can be seen as a signal to Beijing that it is "not afraid." However, this development also presents challenges. While the statement avoided specific mention of China's actions, in light of recent clashes between Chinese and Filipino forces in the South China Sea, the Quad may face a dilemma regarding whether to explicitly name and condemn China's actions if it upholds "ASEAN Centrality." Potential areas for immediate cooperation include disaster response and maritime domain awareness. The Quad's past assistance following Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and the 2025 Myanmar earthquake provides a precedent for establishing regional rapid-response protocols and enhancing the sharing of maritime domain awareness data. ASEAN's opening of the door to a deeper relationship with the Quad suggests a new phase in regional security. Especially at a time when the Quad has faced questions about its cohesion and direction in recent years, this joint statement holds significant value in reaffirming its purpose.