In what is being seen as a big diplomatic victory for India, Australian Premier Scott Morrison agreed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Ukraine conflict should not dilute Quad partners’ focus on Indo-Pacific, and for that matter, the agenda of dealing with China’s aggression in the region. “In a virtual meeting with his Australian counterpart on Monday, PM Modi substantially discussed Indo-Pacific issues and China’s aggressive behaviour on the Line of Actual Control in the eastern Ladakh region,” sources told The Daily Guardian. “During the discussion on the Ukraine situation with Morrison, PM Modi stressed the need for Quad as well as the global community to remain focused on the Indo-Pacific despite the violence,” sources added. “With Australia being a key Quad partner, PM Modi reminded Morrison of the forum’s main objective of dealing with forces (China) pursuing an aggressive agenda,” sources told The Daily Guardian. Australian leader Morrison concurred with PM Modi’s views on Indo-Pacific. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison today agreed that the conflict in Europe should not be the reason to divert attention from the Indo-Pacific region and the Quad,” Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in a press conference after the virtual summit between the two Prime Ministers. “The leaders also discussed the humanitarian aspects of the Ukraine situation,” he said. The two Prime Ministers met virtually on Monday for the India-Australia Summit, where they discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and China’s aggression on India’s north among other things, the Foreign Secretary added.
Earlier, PM Modi in talks with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Saturday had also emphasised on the need for the Quad to stay focused on the Indo-Pacific so as to deal effectively with challenges being posed by China in the region. While interacting with both the Quad partners, Australia and Japan, PM Modi raised the Indo-Pacific and Chinese aggression emphatically and forcefully, despite the fact that Kishida and Morrison were obsessed with the Ukraine crisis. According to sources, raising Indo-Pacific concerns and China’s aggression was part of the diplomatic strategy PM Modi had chalked out ahead of his talks with Japanese and Australian prime ministers.
Sources said that PM Modi did share his views on the Ukraine situation as well, but he focused on humanitarian issues resulting from the violence and war. During discussions with the Australian PM on Monday, PM Modi continued to insist on dialogue and diplomacy as the only means to end the war. He reiterated the same stand during talks with another Quad partner, Japanese PM Kishida on Saturday. According to Shringla, Scott Morrison, at the meeting, also said that he understood India’s position on the Ukraine issue.
What is important to note is that India, unlike the other Quad members US, Japan and Australia, has not condemned the Russian invasion, maintaining that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The leaders also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest, including concerns over terrorism.
“China came up, too,” Shringla told reporters, adding, “the PM spoke about the situation at the border and in Ladakh. He emphasised that peace and tranquility are a prerequisite for the normalisation of relations with China.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison gave a detailed perspective on Chinese action in the region, particularly the South China Sea, Shringla said. At the summit, the PM thanked Morrison for returning 29 Indian artefacts that were smuggled to Australia and recovered by the authorities there. “I thank you for the initiative to return the Indian antiquities. Antiquities sent by you include hundreds of year-old artifacts and photos that were illegally taken out of Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and other states. On behalf of all Indians, I thank you,” he said.
Earlier, greeting the Australian PM with a “Namaskar”, PM Modi expressed his sympathy over the loss of lives and property in the floods in Queensland and New South Wales. The Foreign Secretary also spoke about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s praise of India’s foreign policy. “To say that only one person (has praised India’s policy), would be wrong. We have received praise from across the board for many of our foreign policy initiatives at the level of the prime minister. Our record speaks for itself,” he said.