Disinformation Campaigns Undermine the Quad’s Credibility and Mission in the Indo-Pacific
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, a strategic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, finds itself increasingly embroiled in a battle against disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining its credibility and effectiveness. These campaigns, often suspected to be state-linked, exploit existing tensions, fabricate evidence, and manipulate narratives to portray the Quad as a warmongering alliance bent on containing China. This disinformation not only erodes public trust but also complicates the Quad’s efforts to promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The sources of these campaigns remain opaque, yet the narratives align with the interests of nations like China and potentially Pakistan, who view the Quad’s growing influence with apprehension.
At the heart of the Quad’s mission lies a commitment to address critical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, encompassing health security, climate change, cybersecurity, and infrastructure development. However, the escalating geopolitical rivalry, particularly with China, has exposed a vulnerability within the Quad’s framework: its strategic ambiguity regarding security matters. This reluctance to explicitly address security concerns has created fertile ground for disinformation campaigns to flourish. By disseminating false or misleading information, these campaigns successfully manipulate public opinion and sow discord among the Quad members and their populace.
Two dominant narratives characterize these disinformation campaigns. The first and most persistent casts the Quad as a hostile military alliance designed to contain China. This narrative plays upon regional anxieties by portraying the Quad’s involvement in disputes, such as the South China Sea and Taiwan, as a catalyst for open conflict. Fabricated evidence, including manipulated images and videos, is frequently employed to bolster these claims. A prime example is the dissemination of a 2017 image of a US-Japan military drill, falsely presented as a recent standoff between Chinese and US vessels in the South China Sea. This manipulated image, used as a thumbnail for a video alleging imminent Quad aggression, garnered significant views, further propagating the false narrative of an impending conflict.
The second prevalent narrative exploits existing political and interpersonal differences among Quad members to sow discord. These campaigns highlight strategic divergences, such as India’s historical non-alignment policy, Australia’s efforts to rebuild economic ties with China, and Japan’s pacifist stance. Furthermore, personal relationships between leaders are targeted. A doctored video depicting US President Joe Biden disrespecting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi circulated widely, aiming to inflame anti-US sentiment within India. These targeted campaigns exploit pre-existing sensitivities to fracture the unity and cohesion of the Quad.
Beyond these core narratives, disinformation campaigns also leverage peripheral issues to indirectly weaken the Quad. Immigration, for example, has been weaponized through false claims, such as those alleging mass deportations of Indian immigrants by the US. These claims, often amplified by accounts linked to Pakistani sources, strain US-India relations and undermine public confidence in the partnership. Even health security, a central pillar of Quad cooperation, has been targeted. False accusations against Japan regarding the safety of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, disseminated primarily in Chinese, jeopardize the credibility of the Quad Vaccine Partnership and its efforts to enhance regional health security.
The disinformation campaigns extend beyond geopolitical and interpersonal disputes to impact even economic initiatives. False claims surrounding environmental pollution caused by a planned rare earths facility in Texas, owned by Australian company Lynas, indirectly affected the Quad’s efforts to secure critical supply chains. While the immediate impact of these campaigns on Quad cohesion has been limited, the potential for long-term damage is substantial. Sustained and convincing false narratives erode public trust, diminish domestic support for Quad initiatives, and hinder the partnership’s ability to build stronger security ties.
To counter these threats, the Quad must adopt a more coordinated and proactive approach to combat disinformation. Continued cooperation, including regular information-sharing on disinformation tactics and countermeasures, is crucial. Collaboration with regional organizations, such as ASEAN, can further strengthen resilience through joint capacity-building and media literacy programs. Engaging with social media platforms to address vulnerabilities, promote transparency, and improve content moderation is also paramount. Japan’s recent public-private partnership aimed at improving technological literacy offers a model for the Quad to emulate. Ultimately, a multifaceted strategy that combines information sharing, media literacy initiatives, and platform engagement is essential to safeguard the Quad’s credibility and advance its mission of fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific.