Chinese Belligerence Brings India and Australia closer

Ushering India into a new era of digital diplomacy Prime Minister Narendra Modi held virtual bilateral summit, the first of its kind, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on June 4^th.  Warranted by a global health crisis, leaders of both countries met virtually to add meat to the Indo-Australia bilateral ties. The meeting comes at a time when the global world order is in a flux. The US is retreating from the international agencies while China is ensnaring them to assert its control. After the World Health Organisation (WHO) let China off the hook, despite the resolution seeking an international investigation supported by over 100 countries, the World woke up to the reality of Beijing’s tightening strangle hold over the global agencies and its naked ambitions. China conformed the worst fears of the World by blatantly defying the call for an open investigation.

Australia’s call for an investigation into origins of Covid-19 to avoid recurrence of any pandemic in future and its strict FDI regulations riled Beijing. China’s Wolf warrior diplomats harangued Australia, called it “chewing gum stuck on the soles” and “lap dog of America”. Forcing Australia to tow its line, Beijing raised tariffs on Australian imports by 80% and banned Australian barley, beef, iron ore and Coal imports. But Australia refused to budge.

Around the same time, directing its wrath against India, which took over as the chair of WHO executive board and backing Australia’s resolution for investigation, China slapped a ban on Indian livestock and pork imports citing African Swine Flu (ASF) concerns.

Apparently miffed by India raising stature as regional leader steering cooperation to tackle the pandemic, as opposed to Beijing its eroding global credibility, China began needling India with incursions and border face-offs. Wary of the global decoupling and plausible flight of capital and investments to India, a favoured destination, China compounded its aggression across the border after India imposed safeguards against Chinese takeover of economically stressed businesses and investments into India. India’s active participation in the QUAD plus members (QUAD+ South Korea, Vietnam, New Zealand) conference convened by the US to deliberate on a collective active to combat the pandemic and India’s drift towards the US, China upped ante against New Delhi.

Since assuming charge, Morrison has been countering China’s infiltration into Australian institutions, universities, media, political system, research, predatory trade tactics, usurpation, cyber domination with 5G Huawei roll out. China has ruthlessly exploited Australia’s open system and democratic values to advance its agenda. China’s latest salvo and relentless bullying has turned Australia towards India which fits its bill in more than one way.

Stressing the importance of the virtual summit High Commissioner Barry O Farell, stated⁴, “like-minded democracies and important partners like Australia and India should work together to shape the post-Covid multilateral order. India and Australia are committed to a free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific and strengthening and making their economies more resilient. And both have a shared goal of strengthening international institutions as well”.

Indo-Australian bilateral summit planned for first week of January in India was cancelled due to bush fires in Australia. Later a visit was contemplated for May but it couldn’t fructify due to Chinese virus outbreak. In the wake of Covid, global leaders continued to engage virtually.  In line with the evolving trend of digital diplomacy Prime Ministers of both countries decided to hold bilateral summit to reshape the bilateral ties and expand the scope of cooperation.

India and Australia which share common values of democracy, rule of law and common interests coalesced into a strategic partnership in 2009. Infusing fresh dynamism, to bilateral cooperation, leaders elevated ties to Comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP)².

Buttressing the strategic dimension of CSP, countries agreed to broaden and deepen defence cooperation. Facilitating increased military inter-operability, India and Australia have signed the basic-Mutual Logistics Agreement (MLS). The signing of MLS is bound to bolster the cooperation among the Quad members. After its inception of Quad in 2007, members held MALABAR exercises as a testament to their cooperation. After the inaugural stint, circumspect of upsetting China Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pulled out the MALABAR exercises in 2008. Ever since, India has been reluctant to invite Australia despite Australia’s recent interest. While Australia’s chances of receiving an invite to join MALABAR exercise improved, after the MLS, pending an official confirmation, it is too early to speculate.

China’s belligerent claims to 90% of SCS citing fictitious nine-dash paradigm and raising cudgels over free movement of vessels even in the international waters and establishing Air Identification Zones (AIZ) has threatened peace and stability of the region. Being important stake holders of the Indo-Pacific region, India and Australia cautioned of this insidious import reaffirmed their support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. Reiterating their commitment to FOIP (Free, Open, Inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific) for promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity they announced Joint Declaration on the shared Vision for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region¹ and respect towards international law and sovereignty and especially to United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Furthering objective of shared maritime vision, both countries agreed to collaborate on environmental challenges, piracy, drugs, arms smuggling, human trafficking, poaching of wild animals, terrorism, unregulated fishing, marine pollution etc. Recapitulating the centrality of ASEAN for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, India and Australia affirmed their commitment to cooperate through various forums like East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM-Plus), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and International Maritime Organisation. Australia supported Prime Minister Modi’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) launched in November 2019 aimed at improving the management of shared oceanic spaces. This new pillar of maritime security cooperation caters to preserving marine ecosystem, capacity building, disaster management and promoting mutually beneficial maritime trade.

Covid-19 disrupted global supply chains and exposed the vulnerabilities of overdependence and globalisation. China is Australia’s largest trade partner. With China weaponizing trade, Australia started diversifying its exports. India is a developing economy with immense potential to grow. Australia believes that India can be a critical partner to meet its economic aspirations. Expressing interest in supply high-quality mineral resources to India, Australia signed a MoU in mining and processing of Critical and Strategic minerals. Both countries agreed to cooperate on the new technologies for exploration. To boost trade and investment, countries decided to renew negotiations on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and explored the possibility of launching RuPay Card in Australia.

To enhance collaboration in science, medical research and technology and promote innovative solutions countries instituted the India-Australia Strategic Research Fund. Plans are afoot to develop a Frame Work Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled-Critical Technology Cooperation to tackle the technological challenges and cybersecurity issues. India and Australia have signed seven MoUs including defence cooperation, water resources management, vocational education and governance reforms ³.

Outlining ways to prevent illegal migration and human trafficking, countries have agreed to hold senior-level dialogue to discuss India’s proposed Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement. Australia supported India’s candidature for UNSC permanent seat and NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) membership. Australia has committed to collaborate and support India’s initiatives- International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Warned of China’s growing influence in its sphere of influence, Australia in 2017 launched “Pacific Step-Up” stepping up engagement with Indo-Pacific Island countries. India engages with the Indo-Pacific islands through Forum for Indo-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC). Underscoring the importance of prosperity of South Pacific Region, India and Australia are planning to align and cooperate through their respective initiatives.

Shoring up strategic and economic cooperation, India and Australia agreed to have biannual 2+2 Defence and Foreign Ministers Dialogue besides the regular interaction under the Foreign Ministers Frame Work Dialogue (FMFD). India has 2+2 Ministerial Dialogues with the US and Japan. By unveiling similar arrangement with Australia, India has bolstered the cohesiveness of Quad. Relaunched Quad 2.0 in 2017 met along the margins of EAS at additional secretary level to revive cooperation. Since then, officials met twice every year, along the side lines of various multilateral fora. By 2019 upgrading the level of dialogue Quad Foreign Ministers met along the side-lines of UNGA. While Quad has been an informal strategic dialogue between the democracies in the Indo-Pacific region, China interpreted it as an alliance against Beijing. Given, China’s misgivings, India’s deepening engagement with Australia on par with other Quad countries the US and Japan is bound to exacerbate its animosity.

Aside the existing bilateral mechanisms- India-Australia Framework for Security Cooperation, India-Australia Maritime Dialogue, India-Australia-Indonesia trilateral dialogue, Japan-Australia-India trilateral dialogue, AUSINDEX bilateral naval exercises, defence policy both countries have agreed to deepen navy to navy cooperation and strengthen maritime domain awareness. India has maritime cooperation agreement with Japan, Indonesia and by adding Australia to the list, India is steadily cobbling support in the Indo-Pacific Region.

With the theatre of action shifting to the east, the geo-strategic construct of Indo-Pacific is assuming greater significance. In absence of a reliable global leadership, coming under the fire of Chinese belligerence, India and Australia, two responsible democracies of the region which share a common vision to promote peace, prosperity and stability have decided to deepen strategic conversation and lay foundation for a multilateral world order. In the process, the middle order powers keen on resurrecting their economies battered by the pandemic are making a determined effort to diversify their trade and reduce overdependence on China to keep the engines of growth running.

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