Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Quad advances disaster-relief logistics network amid India-China thaw
Four countries known as the Quad are working on a system to help with disasters.
Australia, India, Japan and the United States practiced together in Tokyo.
Their exercise took place on September 3 and 4.
They imagined natural disasters and discussed how to use their supplies and transportation more effectively.
The system is called the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, or IPLN.
It is meant for civilian humanitarian help and disaster relief.
The countries made significant progress on rules for operating the network.
More exercises and expert meetings are planned.
The drill happened soon after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
India and China are trying to improve relations while continuing to discuss their boundary dispute.
Australia, India, Japan and the United States held a two-day logistics exercise in Tokyo on September 3 and 4.
The tabletop drill used simulated natural-disaster scenarios to examine civilian response coordination across the Indo-Pacific.
The countries reported significant progress on standard operating procedures for the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network.
The network is intended to combine existing logistics capabilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The exercise followed a meeting between Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping as India and China pursued diplomatic progress.
- Who
- Australia, India, Japan and the United States participated; Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping held the related India-China meeting.
- What
- The Quad advanced procedures for a logistics network intended to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
- When
- The tabletop exercise took place on September 3 and 4, with a joint statement issued on September 14, 2026.
- Where
- The exercise was held in Tokyo, Japan, after a high-level India-China meeting in New Delhi.
- Why
- The countries aim to coordinate logistics and respond more quickly and efficiently to natural disasters and regional emergencies.
Quad and New Delhi
Beijing
Nature of the Quad
Quad and New Delhi
The Quad says it focuses on practical regional cooperation, maritime security, critical technologies and humanitarian assistance, and maintains that it is not a military alliance.
Beijing
Beijing characterizes the Quad as an exclusive bloc intended to contain China.
Approach to India-China relations
Quad and New Delhi
Narendra Modi said peace and tranquillity along the border, together with adherence to existing agreements and understandings, are fundamental to restoring normal bilateral relations.
Beijing
Beijing advocated parallel progress, with bilateral cooperation advancing while efforts to resolve the boundary dispute continue.
- Network
- Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN)
- Participants
- Australia, India, Japan and the United States
- Exercise
- Two-day tabletop exercise using natural-disaster scenarios
- Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Dates
- September 3 and 4
- Purpose
- Humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, civilian response and regional recovery
- Next steps
- Additional tabletop and field exercises, confidence-building measures and expert exchanges
