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EYE ON INDIA JULY 31, 2026 | The Indian Eye 6

India Balances China Reset with Quad

Commitment in a Changing Indo-Pacific

As New Delhi cautiously normalizes ties with Beijing while deepening cooperation within
the Quad, India is pursuing a calibrated strategy that seeks stability on its northern border

without compromising its Indo-Pacific partnerships.

OUR BUREAU awareness. This evolution has enabled
India to deepen strategic partnerships
Manila / New Delhi
without entering into treaty-based al-
ndia’s evolving engagement with liance commitments that could con-
China and its simultaneous com- strain its foreign policy autonomy.
Imitment to the Quad underline The United States continues to
one of the defining features of New frame the Quad within its broader
Delhi’s foreign policy: strategic bal- Indo-Pacific strategy. At the Manila
ancing rather than strategic align- meetings, Washington reiterated its
ment. Recent diplomatic exchanges commitment to a free, open and pros-
in Manila have illustrated how India is perous Indo-Pacific and emphasized
attempting to stabilize relations with long-term engagement with ASEAN.
Beijing after years of border tensions US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
while continuing to strengthen securi- reaffirmed that the Quad remains a
ty and economic partnerships with the strategic priority, describing the four
United States, Japan and Australia democracies as sharing a common vi-
under the Quad framework. sion based on the rule of law, sover-
The parallel diplomatic engage- eignty and territorial integrity.
ments -- External Affairs Minister S. For India, however, the Quad
Jaishankar’s meeting with Chinese serves a broader strategic purpose
Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a group photo with Australian Foreign Minister Penny than simply balancing China’s grow-
Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting -- Wong, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi ing influence. It enhances India’s pro-
demonstrate that India sees no con- file as a leading Indo-Pacific power,
tradiction between improving bilat- during the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, in Manila on Wednesday. (@SecRubio X/ANI Photo) strengthens defense and technology
eral ties with China and participating partnerships with advanced econo-
in regional groupings that seek to pre- States. Stable ties with New Delhi New Delhi has increasingly linked mies, and provides greater flexibility
serve a free and open Indo-Pacific. In- would allow Beijing to avoid simulta- broader bilateral normalization to in responding to regional security
stead, New Delhi appears to be pursu- neously managing strategic rivalry on sustained stability along the frontier. challenges. At the same time, New
ing a dual-track strategy that combines multiple fronts while reinforcing its While disengagement efforts have Delhi has consistently resisted por-
engagement with deterrence. narrative of Asian cooperation. reduced immediate military tensions, traying the grouping as an anti-China
The latest round of India-China India, however, continues to ap- strategic trust remains limited. alliance, preferring to emphasize its
dialogue reflects a gradual thaw fol- proach the relationship with greater At the same time, India’s partic- positive agenda centered on regional
lowing the prolonged military stand- caution. Jaishankar reiterated that ipation in the Quad continues to ex- stability and development.
off in eastern Ladakh that began peace and tranquility along the Line pand. During the Foreign Ministers’ This balancing act is consistent
in 2020. Chinese Foreign Minister of Actual Control (LAC) remain the Meeting in Manila, India joined the with India’s larger vision of a multi-
Wang Yi described India and China indispensable foundation for restor- United States, Japan and Australia polar Asia. Interestingly, both India
as “partners, not competitors, and ing normal bilateral relations. He in reaffirming their commitment to and China now invoke the language
opportunities, not threats,” arguing stressed that stability on the frontier a free and open Indo-Pacific while of multipolarity, albeit with differ-
that recent interactions between Pres- is a “pre-requisite” for broader dip- expressing unwavering support for ent strategic objectives. Beijing sees
ident Xi Jinping and Prime Minister lomatic engagement and argued that ASEAN centrality. The ministers multipolarity as a means of diluting
Narendra Modi had placed bilateral any durable relationship must rest discussed maritime security, critical American influence, while India views
ties back on a path of improvement. on mutual respect, mutual interest technologies, economic resilience, it as creating greater strategic space
He called for expanded cooperation and mutual sensitivity. He also raised humanitarian assistance and emerg- for middle powers to pursue indepen-
in trade, people-to-people exchang- longstanding concerns regarding ing regional challenges, underscoring dent foreign policies.
es and multilateral forums, while market access, trade imbalances and the Quad’s growing role as a platform The Manila meetings therefore
emphasizing that both countries, as supply chain reliability, signaling that for practical cooperation rather than reflect not a contradiction but the es-
representatives of the Global South, economic issues remain intertwined a formal military alliance. sence of India’s contemporary foreign
should contribute to a more multipo- with the political relationship. The Quad’s agenda has steadily policy. By keeping diplomatic chan-
lar international order. This emphasis reflects India’s broadened beyond traditional security nels open with China while reinforc-
The rhetoric from Beijing reflects post-2020 approach towards China. concerns. Cooperation now extends ing the Quad, New Delhi is seeking
China’s interest in reducing tensions Unlike the earlier period when eco- to resilient supply chains, critical and to reduce the risks of confrontation
with India at a time of increasing geo- nomic engagement often progressed emerging technologies, infrastructure, without compromising its long-term
political competition with the United independently of border disputes, disaster response and maritime domain strategic interests.

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