Quad Steps Up Logistics Push As India-China Relations Show Signs Of Improvement

Even as India and China work to consolidate a recent thaw in bilateral ties, the Quad grouping of India, the United States, Japan and Australia has taken steps towards operationalising a logistics network aimed at strengthening humanitarian assistance and disaster-response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific. The four countries have made progress on common procedures that could allow them to coordinate existing logistics resources more efficiently during natural disasters and other emergencies.

The development came after Australia, India, Japan and the US concluded a tabletop exercise in Tokyo focused on the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN). The Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday that the four countries had made “significant progress” towards developing standard operating procedures for the network. These procedures are expected to provide an institutional framework for coordinating logistics capabilities and improving the speed and effectiveness of humanitarian operations.

Hosted by Japan's Ministry of Defense on September 3 and 4, the exercise was based on natural-disaster scenarios and examined how the four partners could combine their existing logistics capabilities during emergencies. The discussions focused on interoperability and coordination, with the participating countries assessing ways to work together more effectively when rapid deployment of relief supplies and other resources is required. The exercise was part of continuing efforts by the Quad members to strengthen practical cooperation in disaster response.

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The Tokyo meeting followed an earlier IPLN tabletop exercise held in Hawaii in April last year and a field training exercise conducted in Guam in December. During the latest exercise, the four countries also discussed mechanisms for coordinating humanitarian assistance during crises and emergencies. The participating nations expressed condolences to communities affected by recent floods, highlighting the network's intended role in responding to natural disasters and supporting affected populations.

The Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network was unveiled at the grouping's leaders' summit in September 2024 as a civilian initiative. It is designed to make use of the four countries' existing logistics assets rather than create an entirely separate infrastructure. By establishing common procedures and improving coordination, the initiative seeks to enable faster and more organised humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations across the Indo-Pacific. The latest progress on standard operating procedures marks another step towards putting the network into practical use.

The Tokyo exercise also came against the backdrop of improving India-China relations. A day before the exercise concluded, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The meeting was part of efforts by the two countries to build on recent progress in their bilateral relationship. Xi's visit marked his first trip to India in seven years. The parallel developments underline India's continued engagement with China while it works with Quad partners on practical cooperation in the wider Indo-Pacific, particularly in areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

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