While we are well aware of the term QUAD, which denotes a strategic alliance between four Indo-Pacific nations: the US, Japan, Australia, and India, SQUAD may be a new phenomenon. However, before I delve into it, let’s understand the QUAD to begin with.
Interestingly, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is not a formal alliance, yet it has been actively maintaining the security and economic ties in an effort to stall China’s rise. The genesis of QUAD’s formation dates back to 2004, when the Indian Ocean tsunami shook the nations around it. At the time, the US was busy in Afghanistan and Iraq, but its interests in the Pacific forced it to form a group with its allied nations in the diverse regions. It began primarily with Maritime Cooperation among the four major members, but it soon expanded its agenda to security, economy, and health issues, due to the pandemic. However, the underlying purpose was to block or at least stall China’s rise as a global economy and a power that could ultimately challenge the unilateral international order led by the US.
Perhaps Western analysts and practitioners overlooked China’s strategy of expanding its power without resorting to force.
While QUAD was still in its infancy and without any significant gains in its purpose, China launched its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, which took the world by storm. The initial reaction of the world powers was that it was too ambitious and not doable. Perhaps, they misread the political acumen of the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who was the architect of the plan, and remain resolutely behind its execution across the globe.
The beauty of China’s BRI lies in its approach and application across all regions regardless of countries’ political affiliations and the resources. China came forward to invest in the countries that needed it the most. For instance, the countries of Francophone and Anglophone Africa have been deprived of the much-needed investments in the people-oriented projects. China, instead of protecting regimes in the poorest of the poor African countries, invested in projects that will directly benefit the people.
China’s BRI runs throughout Africa, focusing primarily on basic-needs projects. For instance, Kenya is getting the Mombasa-Nairobi standard-gauge railway line, and Lamu gets a deep-sea port. Likewise, Uganda is getting hydro-electric projects and road upgrades, including the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, that will directly contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
The projects in Ethiopia & Djibouti are also focused on infrastructure development that includes railways and ports. Nigeria is getting major rail lines, such as Lagos-Istanbul and Lekki Free Trade Zone & Deep Sea Port. Likewise, Tanzania gets an ambitious deep-water port, Bagamoyo and the Tanzania-Mwanza Railway, one part of a rail network that will ultimately link the Indian Ocean coast to hinterland nations.
So much for the Anglophone Africa that has been looking for a source of development since its colonial masters left on paper but remained on the ground to continue ruling through their proxy leaders.
As regards the Francophone African region, Sudan receives significant support for its oil infrastructure and agricultural developments, along with an overhaul of its railway infrastructure. Likewise, Cameroon is initiating its energy projects, and Mali and Senegal have requested a significant upgrade to their dilapidated railway systems, similar to Chad’s, which will ultimately connect to Cameroon and Sudan through Chad.
The purpose of this brief overview of BRI projects in Africa was to highlight that China is not investing in specific regions or particular nations. The African example suggests that China is expanding its outreach to the deprived nations to enhance its influence on them in a positive way and not through coercion.
There is little doubt that Chinese investments in certain places may be through soft loans or assistance, but the net result is the development of those deprived nations. Most projects are focused on energy, education, health, climate, road-rail and ports. China is ensuring that these countries have their food, health, and energy security to face future challenges. China is only trying to make them stand on their feet, something that their colonial masters should have done during their rule or at least after they left.
Back to the title, while the Western world was only able to form QUAD, China has formed a whole SQUAD for its moral and political support across all regions. Perhaps Western analysts and practitioners overlooked China’s strategy of expanding its power without resorting to force. This is what the Chinese Sage Sun Tzu had pronounced thousands of years ago: one should win the war without fighting.
The writer of this article has authored four international books: Nuclear Deterrence and Conflict Management Between India and Pakistan, South Asia Needs Hybrid Peace, Understanding Sun Tzu and the Art of Hybrid War, and Diplomacy and Deterrence.”
The writer of this article has authored four international books: Nuclear Deterrence and Conflict Management Between India and Pakistan, South Asia Needs Hybrid Peace, Understanding Sun Tzu and the Art of Hybrid War, and Diplomacy and Deterrence.”