GUNNERS SHOT CLIPS : THE QUAD OUTCOMES IN DELHI RATTLE CHINA / LT GEN PR SHANKAR

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]So let's now talk of the quad. The quad was meeting was held. Um for many things the quad uh wasn't looking very bright.

[00:00:12]Say till day before yesterday even now it's not looking very bright. Let it be very clear but something is happening. A change is happening and that change is what we're going to capture. Now this is uh ambassador Gurjit Singh. He spoke to DD India and later in this week he's going to come and speak to me on Ghanaot and we're going to discuss the whole you know East Asia everything but just see what he says about the quad and I we'll pick it up from there that quad is staggering because of a lack of a summit but I think holding this meeting at a critical juncture in international relations where India has been able to bring together three powers to discuss matters closely is a very good sign.

[00:01:07]>> So the first thing let's accept the fact that stag you know what he says that you know quad is staggering without a summit which is supposed to happen. So the stack got uh quad got uh devalued on that there's no thing there's no discussion but the fact it is revived and the what I'll go through is how it is getting revived in a manner which actually worries China and the latency of the militarism of court is there it's not run away so let's hear him further >> the second is that if you look at the kind of decisions that have come up in the various documents, the fact sheet, the joint statement, the critical minerals initiative and the energy initiative. Then you see that even though there is no summit so far, the quad is healthy and is doing work at the case level consistently.

[00:02:10]So it is very much alive and kicking. So I think these two are great uh positives out of this. I think India deserves credit for having been able to do this this year.

[00:02:23]Coming to the initiative that you mentioned, I think the securing your welfare is very high on the agenda. Now China is not mentioned but whether it is maritime security whether it is economy and technology security and whether it is the critical minerals and related self-reliance all this is basically based on what China has been doing so now when you you spoke about maritime surveillance so I think there has been a maritime domain awareness coordination ation between India and the other poor countries which is working well. To that two main things have been added. One is this maritime surveillance which is actually a addition of technology to the MDA partners and the second is the uh effort to have a more closer relationship among the coast guards. This is called the quad at sea where I think India will host the coast guards of the other countries to have interoperability and closer understanding which is very good.

[00:03:42]>> So he's spoken of critical minerals, he's spoken of domain awareness, surveillance, coast guard and all that but there's a little more to that this he's given you overview of the chord. Yeah, he said that look uh it lacks a summit but there is something moving on ground which is good without too much talk. Okay. And this is what you know the foreign minister of Japan had to say. Mind you yesterday this is an interesting video from many other this thing. Of course it's in Japanese. You won't understand what he says but in 40° heat in of Delhi he stands outside and records this wherever with auto shorts and all going. That's the interest. That's what I found very interesting. and is giving a message from here.

[00:05:01]See, we don't understand but just the visual the fact that he wants to be here on the street that's very important in terms of signals and he's put all the four people and he's putting it this is largely to his domestic audience you know in uh virtual I say Japan but it carries a significance telling people of Japan look I'm here I'm going to talk to all these people and that's the important thing which you have to understand not only that he goes and you know he you know what this is he's eating gulab jamun and filter coffee look at Yes.

[00:06:13]So look look at the thing what he's conveying. It's conveying a very earthy connect with our people, with our culture, with our food, everything. And that's the outreach which came out in you know yesterday which makes me you know very feel and this is the official statement from one of the spokesperson >> free open and inclusing inclusive Indopacific through the court framework.

[00:06:43]Oh, I think India is very indispensable partner for for Japan within this quad framework. Uh we recognize the India's significance uh political significance which namely which is located in the middle of the in Pacific India Ocean Pacific region. So we'd like to collaborate with India uh in order to realize so-called for free and open Pacific and I think that the India can play a central role in doing so.

[00:07:17]>> So what message does the Japanese foreign minister's visit to India send about the growing partnership between Tokyo and New Delhi? And is Japan also looking at expanding defense cooperation with India and other for partners in the coming years? Yeah, as you know all um prime minister modis visit Japan last August and at the time we have uh issued a kind of joint vision for the next uh 10 years next decade. So based on that we try to mobilize uh our every resources in order to fortify the bilateration between two countries. The one of the pillar is the security cooperation between Japan and Japan Japan and India and uh we are ready to work with Indian government so that the India can uh work together uh in realizing the free and open Pacific once again. Yes. how to >> so very clear India is a central pillar of the Indopacific construct and the quad and then he's you know in the second part he says prime minister Modi came last September to Japan and we put out a thing of India Japan cooperation which includes a security pillar he's in a security pillar here that's a message to China and this is very important now getting back you before our prime minister went to an uh for the Shangghai corporation you know summit in Beijing he first went to Tokyo and there he told everyone look I am first with Tokyo and then I'm going with going to meet Zinping and Putin and if you remember he quit that place Beijing before that parade was to be held >> he didn't wait for the parade okay and Then there was a lot of cooperation being sorted out between Japan and you know uh India. Now it's come to the stage that here comes the foreign minister and he's talking of all these things and the our defense minister has also met their defense minister and I expect and the way that the Chinese are behaving the way forward is with Japan and the way forward for us also is with Japan for two three counts you know we know whatever Trump says or not or whatever Rubia says here or not we can't fully rely on um you know USA if you cannot fully rely on USA then whom do you rely on whom do you count on Japan the same thing hope is good for Japan also even Japan must be thinking look can we rely on Trump fully though they have a higher degree of assurance from Trump because after all Trump also can't leave everyone out and do everything on his own so I think there is something building up and we need to build up and this meeting in quad of quad in Delhi serves that purpose.

[00:10:19]Right. Right. Uh yeah. Your views uh Shri before we go to the Australia angle, your views of this what I >> you know culturally Japan is very very close to India and so is Taiwan. So is South Korea and so is China. China refuses to admit it. But everywhere here Hinduism and Buddhism has spread and everybody you know relates their roots back to India. For example, if you are going to um I I used to strike up conversations in rural Japan. Tokyo is like a developed city but once you go outside Tokyo it's like India. It's pretty it becomes rural very fast is what I'm trying to say. and uh you know I'll strike up conversations with cab driver and things like that and and they also are curious I'm a foreigner I'm speaking out right so uh they they'll strike up conversations you know uh where are you from and my interpreter friend will you know he'll interpret in between he he wants to know where where you are from so then I usually don't answer that and I'll ask him with a question why don't you guess and and everywhere same answer general shanker Hindu I N D U that that sounds in a little different way whether it's chi Taiwan or Korea or Japan or in China I have been to China too Hindu is what they say that's how they associate and and and then you start the conversation and some people know a little bit more of India so we we start talking more so it's it's the cultural connect is there in fact India is more connected with China culturally than it is with United state it's a different matter the dispensation is different you know so um I think and and Japan um once they strike friendships they last a lifetime u initially there's a little bit of hesitation they're trying to find out you know whether you can be relied on trusted upon once you get past that and then your friends were like that's one thing I've noticed about Japanese culture Taiwan is a little bit more Americanlike they are more businesslike But Japan I would I would you know really really go with them if there is any way you can establish partnership very lifelong. So that's my two cents sir it's good if India does get into sir one thing the guys drank filter coffee right you go to Japan there'll be vending machine just like coke Pepsi right there'll be actually hot coffee you know coffee if those of us who are connoisseurs of coffee if you heat it just a little bit more than what it should be it loses all the flavor it's it vaporizes it just becomes like bland but this thing is canned and it kept for days in that machine. You take it out and start sipping, it tastes fresh.

[00:13:15]See, this is what you said yesterday that Japan technically is very very very advanced and that's absolutely what attention to detail. General Shanker, they know coffee lovers like their coffee in a certain way and and you give that. So, this is the big plus working with Japan. Back to you, sir.

[00:13:34]>> Yeah. So Japan and uh you know we've been having a great relationship with Japan not now go back from the Maruti Suzuki days to now and we need to build on it and that was one of the biggest takeaways from my side from the god reinforcement of India Japan ties the second of course is this I mean you know this is Penny Wong who's uh the Australian uh foreign minister Now she says look we're going to build port infrastructure in Fiji. So I'll go back to see where Fiji is so that people know in the map you know I'll keep getting back. This is Fiji here. So for those of you who don't understand this is Fiji and yeah I think last year or year before last our prime minister also went to Fiji and there's lot of connect with Fiji and India. Incidentally, a lot of pe Indians are there and they have and Fiji is important because it gives a connect up to the American continent and Fiji has always been important because from here the next big chain of islands is the Hawaii and Honolulu chain of islands and then goes the you know main mainland uh America, North and South America. You can go either way. So this is a huge thing that you know all three countries all four countries USA, India, uh Australia and Japan are investing in Fiji for port infrastructure there.

[00:15:12]>> That's a very tangible outcome for uh this whole story. That's what she says.

[00:15:18]Cord nations will build port infrastructure to expand reach into Indacific nations. So tangible. Okay.

[00:15:27]And then of course she says look this is my 28th meeting with the foreign minister very important you know like I said the meeting would have been of court but the reinforcement is of the bilaterals that's why I'm focusing on each we spoke spoken enough on India US in days gone by okay let's hear her what she has to Hey >> Mr. uh you could talk to us a bit about what sort of discussions you had at the board meeting on the next board summit.

[00:16:04]Uh we saw uh there was no mention by the board ministers of the summit process.

[00:16:09]Although the joint statement does mention uh the next summit but it does not specifically say where it could be held unlike the last joint statement but very specifically said it could be in 2025. So does that sort of worry you how important it is for you to have a full leader summit to be able to ensure that what remains relevant and also if I can just you know add to that the fact that the president traveled to China uh does that worry you that it could you know possible sort of US China data and raising of tensions between them could lead to dilution of the US commitment to war and sort of you know basically compromise the strategic rationale for which is actually balancing the China conclusion.

[00:16:55]>> Well, first I just want to I suppose pull you up a bit on your last comment.

[00:17:00]I think the quad is is is about strategic stability. Uh and it is about four countries of the region, different countries, countries, you know, which are all democracies. We're obviously very different in size. Australia is the um the least populous member of the quad and and obviously India is the world's largest democracy. The US is the world's um great greatest strategic power and uh and and Japan is an economic power in its own right. So there different countries, democracies who are coming together uh to uh work together for stability, for peace uh uh and uh for openness. Uh and we talk about uh the importance of both responding and delivering. So we are responding uh to the the the needs and calls of of other countries uh and we're seeking to deliver them. Um so you've seen today the announcement in relation to Fiji which I can say to you is very important for Fiji. Uh uh you said uh you talked about US China. As I've said previously the world wants the two great powers of US and China to work together to ensure that uh they can uh coexist peacefully and they can manage their differences.

[00:18:23]And so that dialogue is a good thing.

[00:18:26]And in relation to the quad and the importance of it, uh, you know, this is our third quad meeting since, uh, President Trump was elected. Uh, the first quad meeting since the election, his election was the day just after the inauguration, I think. Uh, and Secretary Rubio has demonstrated his commitment to the Quad and that will continue in terms of the leader summit, but obviously that depends on the envelopment.

[00:18:50]>> Yeah. And when you look at it, it Australia is the one country which needs the cord most and that's why she spoke of strategic stability and all that. And when I discuss with Australians, they say India shouldn't leave squad and let me tell you Japan and uh Australia both regard India as the central pillar of the quad. Whether USA comes or not, they're worried of the fact that look India should stay in the quad.

[00:19:21]If India is in the quad with Australia and Japan, they are very confident like what earlier said, you know, South Korea and Philippines will, you know, eventually come in and, you know, things will start looking up and they'll be able to handle things. So they know, you know, USA will naturally come when all these other countries join in. So to that extent whatever has happened in the court yesterday again I keep reiterating the chord has lost lot of relevance but when this kind of a meeting happens uh certain things have happened there's no doubt about that energy uh critical minerals and all we'll come to the critical minerals part in a bit um you know of course a reset in India US ties the more important thing for me is the solidification of the ties between India and Australia, India and Japan and some kind of a loose triangle forming with you know getting South Korea and Philippines in so that should USA you know not play its hand the way it is supposed to then where does it come the second thing is what is realized what people are realizing now is that America has done a blunder I'm now going to a bit of an analysis and then let me and then we'll get to the next one. Why?

[00:20:49]If you see in all the documents which have come out after Mr. Trump has taken over as the president the word has disappeared.

[00:20:59]The primacy has been given to the uh you know that hemispheric outlook. The American hemisphere or the western hemisphere is mine. The Americas are mine. I'm going to have I'm going to focus on the Middle East. It's there in this do in strategic documents. Yeah, we'll handle the uh western Pacific.

[00:21:20]We'll handle that free and Indian uh you know free and open Indian Ocean get some mention here and there and it says people here you know in this area will have to fend for themselves. They'll have to pay for their own things. Even NATO will have to pay. So what has happened is this America defocused from the western Pacific and you know completely Taiwan all that we know that and it focused this side suddenly it finds you know when it in its war with Iran there's no pressure on China why did China start helping Iran after a point of time why has China become a hero overnight Because the edge, the punch from China was missing at the doorstep. The front door was left open for China to ro loaf around wherever it wants. When you have officially told them, we're not going to focus on you. You devalued CO. Then China started thinking offensively. It stopped thinking defensively.

[00:22:31]Right? And I think this is the right time. suddenly you know during this entire process of what happened with Iran and Trump went there and came back you know to Beijing he suddenly has realized I'm probably letting you know China out of the cage so I have to get that cage back in the cage is caught so they have come back in a way it's good and in a way I mean I would say in many ways it's good because China is not out of the cage China see the good thing or bad thing about China is I will say for us from our perspective the western Pacific nations in India and the cord and all these are one cage around China to contain China but there's another cage within this cage that is China itself China is doing a self-containment you don't need anyone else to come and contain China right and we've discussed this so I'm not going to get in with their their way they messed up their democracy they messed up their military and their economy is not funny and everything comes down to that one single factor called democracy. So they built a huge cage among around themselves. So China is not at out of the cage but China always attempts to get out of that cage. So the squad reinforces back that cage. Let's see if there's a change of heart from the American administration.

[00:23:59]And let's also be clear without the American administration fully committed to the court the court will again go back to failure right and that on that I don't have a doubt so let us see because it ultimately depends on how Iran turns out what is the deal in Iran now let's look at the next part of what happened Rubio and Jay Shanka signed a bilateral India uh US India critical minerals framework now This is a bilateral and a quadilateral. The critical minerals framework is also part of Australia, Japan, India and uh US and a bilateral.

[00:24:40]So that's the interesting thing. So what is here? You're going to have investments from USA, Australia, Japan and India. All three are investing. All four are investing. Uh rare earths today are found in India. Incidentally he critical minerals and ray earths are there quite a bit in India. Okay. And the we we often underestimate that. And then of course Australia these two countries and some parts of America a place called mountain pass in California has rare earths. So they that's also being opened up. So something is being opened up. Uh engineering technology everything Japan has got. Japan and uh uh you know USA have they have the knowhow of rare earths and now Australia has joined in and we have also joined in. The worry for China is that these four people will start closing down the rare earth uh you know hold. Now you have to look at it from a slightly different angle. I'm now getting back to a connect. You know two weeks back we spoke why is Sergio Gore in Assam?

[00:25:53]Seror Gore is NASA because that entire belt is full of rare earths and some you know pristine graphite has been found in Arunachal.

[00:26:03]The right the thing is how to get it out from there and when that graphite starts coming in then you are in a different ball game and people are scouting for rare earths in that belt which is there you know in similar morphology as it exists in Myanmar. There are places in Assam.

[00:26:25]So you connect this up. We have rare earths along with thorium in the peninsula India and in the northeast India. And once this squad gets in then you my own view is we should exploit it towards Myanmar and start puncturing China's hold on Myanmar and the uh you know rare earth elements out there and get it into a more significant thing. Uh Australia has already spoken to India about it. India Australia and USA have discussed about it. Japan has uh had a factory still got a I think a factory here in near somewhere near Rishakaportnam rare earth factory toitsu or something like that I don't remember so we are all in the game and if as a result of court you come to a agreement and a clear road map as to how to do it then you know the Chinese dominance of rare earth minerals on will go and they know it that's The beauty is they didn't know it. Okay. And then of course the reaction was immediate from China. Okay. This is what she had to say. Listen to it.

[00:27:43]>> We have made our position clear more than once. We believe that state-to-state cooperation should be conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity. Should not target any third party. We do not support forming exclusive small blocks or block confrontation any corporation should nor harm the mutual trust between regional countries.

[00:28:03]>> So immediately the moment the court uh you know meet ended here there was a reaction that ladies started speaking yesterday only. So they are worried. I mean if you look at it, China has full reason to be worried because unlike before when China had uh all the other neighboring nations under its grip, today it's not just the court. Other nations around China are also not, you know, uh okay with it. As a result, China has full reasons to get worried and that's what she's explaining.

[00:28:42]Okay, there of course how Beijing goes about the their own story and what's the uh you know counter move I've tabulated what is the coion tool from Beijing rare earth expert uh export weaponization and it's done so against Japan it all critical minerals and rare earth Japan have been banned so you this cod critical minerals initiative framework which was concluded yesterday opens this up then of course gray on maritime operations near the Philippines and Taiwan. So what do you have against that in the court? the Indo-Pacific maritime surveillance cooperation which is over and above the maritime uh you know uh domain awareness which is already set up and it this IPMSC has been set up in Gorgam Gorg right it's a four nation surveillance into common operating picture but my guess is Taiwan and Philippines also will get into this what does Beijing do influence operations across the Pacific island uh states So when this cord comes up you can deconstruct all that influence then energy leverage and uh with this cord initiative on Indo-Pacific energy security is important will it lead to eventually one day a framework in which we you know block Malaka trade against uh uh against China we'll have to see and then this initiative you know of this military uh this narrative initiative or narrative about this militaristic Japan and all that uh is uh you know being deconstructed by quad in one some manner or the other. So you see that you know the squad has achieved certain things very I won't say tangibly not yet but at least on paper we have started something and connecting it with what's on found.