In a strong message to China and Pakistan, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) foreign ministers on Friday reaffirmed the Quad’s commitment to supporting Indo Pacific countries’ efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and also asked the countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks. The QUAD meeting was attended by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and foreign ministers of Japan and Australia.
The joint statements issued by the Quad foreign ministers summit stated that the group recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.
The Quad reiterated the importance of adherence to international law to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas.
It also stated that it is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries.
Notably, ever since Quad was formed, China has been vociferously attacking it. Beijing has territorial disputes with many countries in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
Expressing grave concern over terrorism, the Quad members asked all the countries to ensure that territory under their control is not used to launch terror attacks and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks.
“We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks in India, including 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks,” the joint statement said.
The Quad summit also condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile tests.
We condemn North Korea’s destabilising ballistic missile launches in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea consistent with UNSCRs, and reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees, the joint statement stated.
Quad meeting: What Jaishankar said
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stressed that Quad has worked well as a force for global good due to strong relations between member countries.
Jaishankar assured the Quad members that his country was building an agenda which seeks to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
"We are keen to work together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts which address contemporary issues," the external affairs minister said.China strongly reacted to Quad terming it as a "tool" to contain Beijing's rise. "China believes that the Quad mechanism is only a tool to contain China. This is a deliberate move to stoke confrontation and undermine international solidarity and cooperation," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
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