Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region has become a critical concern due to China’s increasingly aggressive maneuvers, especially in the South China Sea. China continues to assert its territorial claims to nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea through the so-called “nine-dash line” that extends far beyond its internationally recognized borders.

In recent months, China has deployed its coast guard and military ships to enforce these claims. This has led to frequent confrontations with the Philippines, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Notably, China’s installation of floating barriers and construction of artificial islands near the Sabina Shoal, just 150 km from Palawan Island in the Philippines, have further escalated tensions. In addition, China has authorized its coast guard to stop foreign ships in disputed waters. However, this violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and threatens freedom of navigation, which is essential to international trade.

China’s maritime expansion is part of a broader “gray zone” strategy – actions that do not end in armed conflict, but are aimed at gradually expanding control without triggering direct military reactions from the international community. This includes the use of civilian fishing vessels as part of a maritime militia. Such tactics pose a serious challenge to regional sovereignty, causing a recalibration of security strategies by affected countries and their allies, in particular members of the Quad.

In light of these rising tensions, the Quad’s collective maritime security efforts are proving to be a key counterweight to China’s aggressive posture in the Indo-Pacific region. By working together to improve coordination, share intelligence and increase naval presence, Quad members aim to protect key shipping lanes and protect smaller countries from coercing Beijing into submission. This cooperation combines military power with diplomatic reach. The aim is to ensure respect for international law, in particular UNCLOS, and to ensure that nations in the region are not forced to compromise on their sovereignty.

The recent quadrilateral summit in September 2024 produced several important conclusions focused on strengthening maritime security across the Indo-Pacific region as four countries – India, the United States, Japan and Australia – continue to confront threats regional, especially resulting from China’s assertive actions.

In addition to the key results discussed earlier, several other aspects emerged as crucial to the region’s maritime security:

Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA): Initially launched in 2022, IPMDA has now been expanded to provide advanced tools such as real-time radio frequency and electro-optical data, enabling over two dozen countries in the Indo-Pacific to monitoring illegal fishing and illegal maritime activities in their exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

In 2024, Quad plans to enable advanced analytics software to further enhance maritime monitoring capabilities, reflecting deeper integration of cutting-edge technologies to counter emerging threats.

Maritime training (MAITRI): This newly launched initiative aims to provide Indo-Pacific partners with technical and operational training, enabling them to make the most of IPMDA tools. By 2025, India will host the first MAITRI workshop, which will focus on strengthening maritime security operations through comprehensive legal, technical and law enforcement training across the region.

Indo-Pacific logistics network: The Quad also introduced a pilot logistics network project to connect the air transport capabilities of member countries. These efforts aim to reduce response times to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating the Quad’s commitment to humanitarian efforts alongside maritime security.

Coast Guard Cooperation: The first-ever Quad-at-Sea surveillance mission, scheduled for 2025, will bring personnel from Japan, Australia and India aboard U.S. Coast Guard vessels in the Pacific. This initiative aims to increase the interoperability of these countries’ coast guards, representing a significant step forward in multilateral maritime security operations.

International data integration: The Quad is moving towards increased international data integration, using satellite imagery, advanced electro-optical sensors and cutting-edge artificial intelligence-based maritime tracking systems. These systems are intended to provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of activities across vast areas of the Indo-Pacific, enabling real-time responses to illegal activities such as illegal fishing and the militarization of disputed territories.

Cybersecurity in maritime operations: Last week’s summit also highlighted the need to secure maritime communications systems, especially those related to monitoring and navigation, against growing cyber threats. Given the increasing digitization of maritime operations, the Four countries are committed to working more closely to protect data networks against cyber attacks that could disrupt maritime domain awareness or reduce response times to illicit activities.

Infrastructure investments: The Quad has made progress in promoting resilient port and subsea cable infrastructure across the region. In 2024, more than $140 million has already been committed to projects to increase port capacity and protect undersea cable networks, which are critical to data transmission in the Indo-Pacific region. This infrastructure development is essential not only for economic connections, but also for maintaining maritime security.

Increased involvement of ASEAN countries: A key theme in 2024 is strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Quad members have stepped up efforts to engage ASEAN countries in a common maritime security framework, offering them access to advanced technologies, training and operational support. This is crucial because many ASEAN countries, especially the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, are on the front lines of maritime disputes with China.

Despite this progress, additional resources are needed. The Quad should prioritize strengthening international legal frameworks such as UNCLOS to address China’s gray zone tactics that sidestep direct conflict but undermine regional stability. A more robust economic engagement strategy would help Indo-Pacific countries resist economic coercion and align with the Headquarters’ security objectives.

Aditya Sinha (X: @adityasinha004) is Officer on Special Duty, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. The views expressed in the above text are the author’s personal and exclusive views. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.