Quad, comprising India, US, Japan, and Australia, sent a clear message to China on Monday by reaffirming their commitment to a free & open Indo-Pacific.
The foreign ministers met in Tokyo and expressed their opposition to any form of coercion or domination in the region.
In a joint statement, the ministers highlighted the importance of maintaining a rules-based international order, respecting human rights, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Without naming China directly, they voiced serious concerns over the situation in the East and South China Seas, condemning any unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo through force or coercion.
The meeting was attended by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The Quad stressed that all countries should contribute to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and should be free from coercion. The group also committed to working towards a prosperous Indo-Pacific amidst increasing Chinese military activities in the region.
The ministers emphasised adherence to international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to address challenges to the maritime rules-based order.
They condemned the militarisation of disputed areas and dangerous manoeuvres by coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea.
Additionally, the Quad unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism, including cross-border terrorism, and called for immediate action against all UN-listed terrorist groups such as Al-Qa'ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
ADVERTISEMENT
