In the backdrop of China’s LAC aggression, India is missing no chance to raise the issue of Beijing’s “unfair act” in all diplomatic engagements with various countries of the world. Foreign Secretary Harsh Wardhan Shringla took this matter up with his counterparts from Australia and France, sources said.
The virtual meeting of foreign secretaries of Australia, India and France took place on Wednesday. François De- lattre, the secretary-general of the French ministry for Europe and foreign affairs, and Frances Adamson, secretary of Australia’s department of foreign affairs and trade, spoke to Harsh Wardhan Shringla on a variety of is- sues concerning all the three countries.
The focus of the interaction was on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and strengthening multilateral- ism. The Indian FS did not miss the chance to touch upon the Chinese aggressive behaviour in the region. Sources said that Australia and France agreed to India’s point of views on Beijing’s behaviour.
“During the dialogue, the three sides discussed economic and geo-strategic challenges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and domestic responses to Covid-19,” said a statement from the external affairs ministry.
Australia and Japan, both members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad along with India and the US, are keen to have greater efforts by the nations of the grouping to counter Chinese action in Indo-Pacific. There- fore, Australian foreign secretary was critical of Beijing during the meeting, sources added.
“China’s aggressive actions, including the standoff with India along LAC and its military build-up in the South China Sea also figured during the talk,” sources told The Daily Guardian.
According to sources, India, Australia and Indonesia are also set to hold two virtual meetings of their foreign and defence ministers to enhance defence Agreement cooperation and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific in the coming weeks.
“The focus of the dialogue was on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said, adding cooperation on the “marine global commons” and potential areas for practical cooperation at the trilateral and regional levels were also discussed. “This included cooperation through regional organisations such as Asean, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Indian Ocean Commission.” The three sides also dis- cussed priorities, challenges and trends in regional and global multilateral institutions, including the best ways to strengthen and reform multilateralism, the statement said.
“The outcome-oriented meeting was held with the objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and synergising their respective strengths to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific Region,” the statement said.