QUAD and the indo-pacific security landscape in the us-china geopolitical competition during the first trump's administration

This paper examines the behavior of US military allies - Australia, India, and Japan - tasked with "containing" China through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD). The study demonstrates how shifting interdependencies influence regional perceptions of US-led security initiatives and foster independent security relationships. Despite the US's Cold War-style containment efforts, QUAD members are reluctant to fully embrace the US's hard power strategy. Such a reluctance stems from multivector fears of both the US and China challenging their hegemony. The study argues that the US exploits post-truth myths and illogical arguments to rally support against China, such as framing China as a "malign" threat to regional security. The re-election of Donald Trump in 2024 has heightened interest in the Indo-Pacific and QUAD dynamics, with intensified US commitments in the region. Exploring three potential security scenarios - new balance of power, a cohesive US Indo-Pacific strategy, and a desperate Western response - this paper sheds a light on potential developments in the region.