Quad Tests China's Patience As India, Australia Plan To Set Up Maritime Watch In Beijing's Backyard

India and Australia have taken another major step in their growing strategic partnership. Following the recent Quad summit, both countries agreed to expand maritime surveillance, patrol aircraft cooperation and undersea domain awareness across the Indo-Pacific. The objective is simple: improve visibility above and below the sea. The move is particularly significant as China's submarine activity and naval deployments continue to expand across the region. Beijing has repeatedly criticised the Quad, calling it a platform for bloc confrontation. Yet cooperation between India, Australia, Japan and the United States continues to deepen. From monitoring critical sea lanes to tracking suspicious vessels and strengthening maritime coordination, the latest defence dialogue signals that regional powers are no longer acting alone. The Indo-Pacific is entering a new era of maritime competition, and India and Australia are positioning themselves at the centre of it.