The QUAD Member States have decided to “improve interoperability” among respective Coast Guards. The India Fact Sheet published at the end of the Quad Leaders’ Summit held in September 2024 notes that personnel of the Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard will “spend time on board” U.S. Coast Guard vessel. Dubbed as Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, the deployment will begin in 2025 and “continue with further missions in the Indo-Pacific”.

Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson, the Commander of US Coast Guard Indo-Pacific operations has explained that the Mission will enable sharing “insights about how each one of us does our business in terms of maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, maritime security,” Also, it will help in ensuring that the forces operate in the “correct place, the correct time, and actually exercising the correct things”.

There are at least three reasons for the QUAD Members to announce Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission. First, the South China Sea has seen unprecedented presence and activity by the Chinese Coast Guard in the region. These vessels were also joined in by large number of Chinese maritime militia vessels which apparently operate under the command of the Chinese Coast Guard. For instance, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea observed that between 27 August and 2 September 2024 (i.e. seven days) as many as 203 vessels, the highest ever, belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia were spotted “in the vicinity of our nine occupied features in the West Philippine Sea for this year.”

Second, China’s New Coast Guard Regulations particularly the China Coast Guard Order #3, which is an update to China’s 2021 Coast Guard Law may have triggered Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission. The Order came into effect on 15 June and two days later it attracted an incident involving the Philippines Navy supply ship which witnessed a deliberate collision by the Chinese forces near the Second Thomas Shoal. The incident showcased the primitive approach to combat by the Chinese crew who “wielded machetes, axes, and hammers, causing physical injury and damage to the Philippine boat”. It was also a demonstration of Gray Zone tactics which have become the preferred form of intimidation by the Chinese Coast Guard against the weaker and smaller Philippines Navy.

It caused concern among the regional countries as well as the Quad Members. The above Order is a sanction accorded by the Chinese government to its law enforcement agencies to “detain foreign ships and individuals for up to 60 days if it suspects them of illegally entering what China considers to be its territorial waters”.  The latter is an issue of concern among the other claimants who also claim territories and features claimed by China.

Third, the US is compelled to support the Philippines being an Alliance Partner. It has obligations under the Mutual Defence Treaty. It cannot be a bystander seeing “Philippines looking vulnerable, if not hapless”, and must provide “direct assistance, including escorting Philippine patrol vessels in the area”. After all China has maintained a near continuous coercive-aggressive posturing in the region particularly against the Philippines. Further, QUAD Members are also encouraged by the ongoing patrols by the Australian, Japanese, Philippines and New Zealand vessels which recently sailed through the Taiwan Straits and then to the South China Sea.

Perhaps it merits mention that this was the first time that a Japanese ship sailed through the Taiwan Strait. General Romeo Brawner, the Chief of the Philippines chief has stated that the “patrol was in line with international law and affirmed the right of freedom of navigation and overflight”. The Philippine military press release read “The conduct of the [patrol] manifests the AFP’s dedication to strengthening partnerships and enhancing collective capabilities with like-minded nations to address emerging maritime security challenges,”

In essence the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission appears to focus on law enforcement, for which the Coast Guards are mandated and are internationally recognised-accepted. These vessels are normally painted white and therefore are generally considered more benign in their purpose. Importantly, the type of armament carried onboard makes them less provocative and ensures that the escalation of an untoward incident at sea is kept at its lowest. At another level Coast Guards are vital for regional maritime cooperation and work better for all countries that are deficit in maritime law enforcement are critical for augmenting maritime domain awareness (MDA).

It has been aptly argued that the “sole purpose of the navy is to prepare for war and the coast guard exists for the purpose of performing duties that are not connected with war but have direct implication for national security”.

Dr. Vijay Sakhuja is Professor and Head, Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies (CEGIS), REVA University, Bengaluru and is associated with Kalinga International Foundation, New Delhi.