India

If China wasn’t challenging the rules-based order in the region, I’m not sure the Quad would exist, at least not in this form or with this urgency.

[Regarding the Quad initiative to supply doses of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine to Southeast Asian nations.] It can be visible proof of concept for a grouping that has been dismissed by critics as . . . a meaningless talk shop.

[On a potential Quad initiative to increase COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capability in India and coordinate on distribution across the Pacific region.] A vaccine initiative could show that, look, this is a positive contribution to the region. This isn’t just about containing China, this is a value add that will benefit a number of countries and show what pooled capabilities can do.

[Commenting on the significance of the many individual actions India has performed over the years that departs from its previous non-aligned policy to push back against China when viewed in combination.] If you don’t look at all these things, you miss the spider web that is being woven beneath.