Which alliances are highlighted as part of the United States' approach to counter China?

• A. NATO and ASEAN
• B. AUKUS and QUAD
• C. BRICS
• D. Non-aligned partners

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how the United States builds security partnerships to counter China by shaping deterrence, interoperability, and regional resilience in the Indo-Pacific. AUKUS and the Quad are showcased as the primary tools for that approach.

AUKUS represents a deep, trilateral commitment with Australia and the United Kingdom focused on advanced defense capabilities, most notably nuclear-powered submarines and related technologies. This arrangement strengthens deterrence by expanding the region’s naval reach, enabling faster, more persistent presence, and accelerating access to cutting-edge defense tech. It signals a commitment to a longer-term, technologically integrated security posture in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad, a security-focused collaboration among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, operates as a forum for coordinating defense and strategic policy, improving interoperability, and conducting joint exercises and information sharing. It emphasizes a networked approach to counter coercion, protect open sea lanes, and bolster regional resilience through collective action and rapid response options.

These partnerships illustrate a shift toward formalized, multiparty alignment in the region—greater coordination, shared capabilities, and a credible deterrent in the face of challenges to the Indo-Pacific order. By contrast, groups like NATO or ASEAN, BRICS, or non-aligned partner concepts do not embody the same targeted, regional alliance-building focused on countering China.