ABSTRACT
The “Quadrilateral Security Dialogue” or “Quad,” which comprises Australia, Japan, India and the United States (US), has attracted unprecedented attention amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as all the Quad member-states have simultaneously experienced a fallout in bilateral relations with China. The Quad can be appealing to developing countries if the group goes beyond policy consultations, military exercises, remonstrations with China and “show the money.” While vilification of China might work for some countries, it is only by collectively putting forward economic inducements that the Quad can be more attractive to third countries and able to substantially shape their strategic preferences. The Quad has buy-in in the Philippines because President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy, which is similar to the rationale of “ASEAN centrality”, does not want the Philippines to be beholden to any major power.
