US politicians of all stripes see Quad as bulwark against China in Indo-Pacific

Bipartisan support for Quad grouping reflects growing concern about China's economic and military rise

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), a strategic dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, has emerged as a key element of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad was initially formed in 2007 but was revived in 2017 amid growing concerns about China's growing economic and military power.

The grouping has since held regular meetings and conducted joint exercises, and its members have pledged to cooperate on a range of issues, including maritime security, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance.

The Quad has been widely seen as a response to China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, and its members have been vocal in their criticism of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and its military buildup in the region.

The Quad has also been seen as a way to promote a "free and open Indo-Pacific," a concept that has been endorsed by the Trump administration.

The Biden administration has also expressed support for the Quad, and its members have vowed to continue cooperating on a range of issues, including countering China's influence in the region.

The Quad has been welcomed by some analysts as a way to balance China's power in the Indo-Pacific, but others have questioned its effectiveness, arguing that it is unlikely to deter China from pursuing its strategic goals in the region.

Despite these concerns, the Quad remains a key element of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, and its members are likely to continue cooperating on a range of issues in the years to come.