no title

Many across the region look at the effort and money spent on military exercises and arrive at the conclusion that the real intent of the Quad is to contain China—not to deliver prosperity and development in the region. [...] If this is to change, the Quad needs to leverage its combined discourse power to highlight the achievements of individual members of the Quad in the prosperity and development pillars as achievements of the Quad collectively. [...] While the Japanese public sees the US security commitment to Japan as credible, the US withdrawal from the Trans- Pacific Partnership in 2017 meant the United States would not be involved with the economic architecture of Asia for the foreseeable future. [...] The Quad further ensures the involvement of the United States in the region, especially with the looming possibility of a Republican administration further diminishing the US role in Asia. [...] The Quad’s Next Chapter — 14 Given the importance of the Mekong to the region, the Quad countries should engage existing minilateral groupings that focus on the Mekong and its importance.