In what is being seen as a big diplomatic achievement for India, the foreign ministers of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) countries, who met in Melbourne on Friday (11 February), conveyed a strong message to China by calling for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The Quad also sent out a strong signal to Pakistan by condemning the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks, stressing on the need for ending cross border terrorism. The joint statement, which was issued after the meeting of the Quad foreign ministers of India, the United States, Australia and Japan, also called for adherence to international law in a clear reference to People’s Republic of China’s aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific and other regions. The Quad also underlined the need to enhance engagement with ASEAN in what is being seen as part of its strategy to counter China.
The Quad joint statement is also being seen as a strong reply to China, which had lashed out at the grouping, accusing members of the forum of “driving wedges in the region and having a Cold War mentality”. Hours before the Quad FMs’ meeting, the Chinese foreign ministry said, “as a bloc it was trying to trigger confrontation, unlike China, which stands for peace and development”. Beijing also accused the US of forming blocs and attempting to force its style of democracy.
Top Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources told The Daily Guardian that “China’s comments figured during Quad foreign ministers’ meet and also during S Jaishankar’s bilateral meeting with Antony Blinken. The ministers took a strong note of the same.” Sources told The Daily Guardian, “In fact, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had set the tone of the meeting during his bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of the Quad meeting, when the EAM elaborated on China’s growing aggressive behaviour and Pakistan continuing to sponsor cross border terrorism. He also raised the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.” All these issues were mentioned in the joint statement later.
In an obvious reference to China, Jaishankar called for the need to uphold the international order based on respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, and freedom of navigation. “Jaishankar’s diplomatic effort was also aimed at ensuring that the US’ focus does not get shifted from the issues of China to the Ukraine crisis,” said a diplomat. “During the interaction with Secretary Blinken, EAM Jaishankar highlighted issues related to China, Pakistan and the Taliban ruled Afghanistan,” he said. Significantly, the joint statement did not mention Ukraine.
According to sources, the EAM spoke at length about several strategic issues during his meeting with Secretary Blinken. He also dwelt upon the issues related to China and Pakistan during Quad interactions. “As a result, China and Pakistan sponsored terrorist attacks in India were on the table as key topics during discussion and the perspective was exactly what the EAM has spoken about,” highly-placed sources told this newspaper.
“Since our last interaction in Feb 2021, the geo-political and geo-economic global scenario has become more complex. As leading democracies, we pursue our shared vision of upholding a rules-based international order free from coercion, based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the international seas and peaceful resolution,” EAM Jaishankar said after meeting Secretary Blinken with reference to China. During the Quad meet, the EAM stressed on the need to make Quad a force for global good—Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for this partnership.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne also came down heavily on Beijing, saying, “More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challenge. DPRK, China as well and they will be part of our discussions,” she said. Blinken also said Quad discussion would focus on establishing a regional environment free from “coercion”—a swipe at Beijing’s expansive economic and military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
Raising concerns about the increasing aggressiveness of China, Blinken said the Quad grouping deserves the freedom to work together.
Blinken made these remarks in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
“What’s so striking to me as we get together is that this is a group of countries brought together not by what we are against but what we are for. That quite simply is a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Blinken. “People deserve to live freely, countries deserve to have the freedom to work together and associate with whom they choose. Together we can demonstrate that we are effective in bringing benefits to all of our people,” he added.
“We share concerns in recent years, China has been acting more repressively, and more aggressively in the region, and, indeed, potentially, beyond. But, as I said, what brings us together what unites us is an affirmative vision for what the future can bring,” Blinken said.
Earlier, Blinken described the Quad as a “powerful mechanism” to deliver vaccines worldwide as well as to push back against “aggression and coercion” in the Indo-Pacific. However, he stopped short of naming China. The Quad also expressed concern about the crisis in Myanmar and called for an end to violence and the release of all those arbitrarily detailed.
Meanwhile, Australia has announced that it will be opening its high commission in the Maldives and invest $36.5 million over five years in the region.
The Quad FMs’ joint statement said, “We reaffirm the Quad’s commitment to supporting Indo Pacific countries’ efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific—a region which is inclusive and resilient, and in which states strive to protect the interests of their people, free from coercion.”
“Our meeting advanced the Quad’s positive and ambitious agenda. We are focused on working closely with Indo-Pacific partners to address the region’s most important challenges. Working together as the Quad, we are more effective in delivering practical support to the region. As unwavering supporters of ASEAN unity and centrality, and the ASEAN-led architecture, we continue to support ASEAN partners to advance the practical implementation of ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.”
“The Quad recognises that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We reiterate the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas.” “We denounce the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urge countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens; disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them; and halt cross-border movement of terrorists.”
“In this context, we call on all 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. We reaffirm UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist acts, with such ungoverned spaces being a direct threat to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific.” The statement also condemned North Korea’s destabilising ballistic missile launches in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). It reaffirmed Quad’s commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea consistent with UNSCRs.