NEW DELHI: In a loud and clear message to China, the Quad proclaimed its steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific on Monday. The coalition vowed to work towards a region where no country dominates others, and each state is free from coercion in all its forms.
During a meeting, the foreign ministers of the Quad, which comprises, US, India, Australia, and Japan, stressed on the importance of upholding a free and open rules based international order, while respecting the principles of freedom, human rights, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of nations.
The ministers also expressed serious concerns over the situation in the East and South China Seas. They voiced strong opposition to any actions aiming to change the status quo forcibly or through coercion, without directly naming China.
The meeting involved external affairs minister S Jaishankar, US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Australian foreign minister Penny Wong.
“All countries have a role in contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity while seeking a region in which no country dominates and no country is dominated, competition is managed responsibly, and each country is free from coercion in all its forms and can exercise its agency to determine its own future,” the ministers stated.
The ministers pledged to work towards a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, a region that has seen growing Chinese military activities in recent years.
“We reaffirm the Quad’s steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient, and are united in our commitment to upholding the free and open rules-based international order, with its strong support for the principle of freedom, human rights, the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes,” the ministers said.
They pointed to increasing Chinese movements in the South China Sea, particularly criticizing the “dangerous use” of coast guard and maritime militia vessels.
“We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea,” their joint statement noted.
“We also express our serious concern about the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, the increasing use of various kinds of dangerous maneuvers, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities,” it continued.
Emphasizing the importance of international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the ministers addressed challenges to the global maritime rules-based order in the South and East China Seas.
The Quad unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism.
“We deplore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, tunnels, and information and communication technologies by terrorists and terrorist entities,” they conveyed.
“We strongly reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, and call for bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice without delay,” they emphasized.
The Quad urged all nations to take swift, sustained, and irreversible action to prevent territories under their control from being used for terrorist purposes.
“We are committed to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of terrorist attacks and support implementation including through domestic designations of UN Security Council resolutions as they pertain to sanctions,” the ministers said.
“We reiterate the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and their proxy groups,” they specified.
The ministers emphasized their commitment to international cooperation and collaboration with regional and international partners. They are determined to strengthen their capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism.
During a meeting, the foreign ministers of the Quad, which comprises, US, India, Australia, and Japan, stressed on the importance of upholding a free and open rules based international order, while respecting the principles of freedom, human rights, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of nations.
The ministers also expressed serious concerns over the situation in the East and South China Seas. They voiced strong opposition to any actions aiming to change the status quo forcibly or through coercion, without directly naming China.
The meeting involved external affairs minister S Jaishankar, US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Australian foreign minister Penny Wong.
“All countries have a role in contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity while seeking a region in which no country dominates and no country is dominated, competition is managed responsibly, and each country is free from coercion in all its forms and can exercise its agency to determine its own future,” the ministers stated.
The ministers pledged to work towards a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, a region that has seen growing Chinese military activities in recent years.
“We reaffirm the Quad’s steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient, and are united in our commitment to upholding the free and open rules-based international order, with its strong support for the principle of freedom, human rights, the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes,” the ministers said.
They pointed to increasing Chinese movements in the South China Sea, particularly criticizing the “dangerous use” of coast guard and maritime militia vessels.
“We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea,” their joint statement noted.
“We also express our serious concern about the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, the increasing use of various kinds of dangerous maneuvers, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities,” it continued.
Emphasizing the importance of international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the ministers addressed challenges to the global maritime rules-based order in the South and East China Seas.
The Quad unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism.
“We deplore the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, tunnels, and information and communication technologies by terrorists and terrorist entities,” they conveyed.
“We strongly reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, and call for bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice without delay,” they emphasized.
The Quad urged all nations to take swift, sustained, and irreversible action to prevent territories under their control from being used for terrorist purposes.
“We are committed to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of terrorist attacks and support implementation including through domestic designations of UN Security Council resolutions as they pertain to sanctions,” the ministers said.
“We reiterate the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and their proxy groups,” they specified.
The ministers emphasized their commitment to international cooperation and collaboration with regional and international partners. They are determined to strengthen their capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism.