Updated: October 7, 2020 7:20:55 am
From left To der ministers meeting in the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 (AP Photo / PTI)
In a rare meeting “in person” during the pandemic, the foreign ministers of the quadrilateral grouping (US, India, Japan and Australia) met in Tokyo amid the five-month border clash between India and China, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, S Jaishankar. looking for “respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty ”and“ peaceful settlement of disputes ”.
The United States Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo, was the only one who Chinese name at the meeting. During his opening speech, he said that “as partners in this Quad … it is more critical now than ever that we work together to protect our people and partners from the exploitation, corruption and coercion of the CCP (Communist Party of China).” for territorial integrity ‘
“We have seen it in the south, in the East China Sea, the Mekong, the Himalayas, the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
After the three-hour meeting, Jaishankar met with Pompeo separately, and the four members, including Australia’s Marise Payne and Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi, met with newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Time key for India
The Quad meeting signals a closing of ranks by the US, India, Japan and Australia against what they perceive is growing Chinese belligerence and the value of a coordinated response. For India, the timing of the in-person meeting is an important marker of support amid the ongoing border clash with China in eastern Ladakh.
While this was the second such meeting, after New York in September last year, the fact that the four ministers flew to Tokyo for the summit is significant amid rising tensions between China and the Quad countries. .
“As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, our nations have collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. We remain committed to upholding the rules-based international order, backed by the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in international seas, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, ”said Jaishankar at the meeting.
While the Foreign Office called it a “second Australia-India-Japan-US Consultation on regional and global issues of common concern,” Jaishankar did not hesitate to describe it as a Quad meeting. “Delighted to join my QUAD colleagues in our ministerial consultations in Tokyo,” he tweeted, although the government has hesitated to use the term in official remarks.
Highlighting the importance of the meeting, Jaishankar said: “The fact that we are meeting here today, in person, despite the global pandemic, is a testament to the importance that these consultations have gained, particularly in recent times.”
Looking to a more aggressive and assertive China, Jaishankar stressed the need for “coordinated responses.” “This year’s events have clearly demonstrated how imperative it is for like-minded countries to coordinate responses to the various challenges that the pandemic has exposed,” he said.
“It is a source of satisfaction that the Indo-Pacific concept has gained increasing acceptance. The Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative that we launched at the East Asia Summit last year is a very promising development in that context, ”he said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Bangkok last November.
Noting that India will assume membership in the UN Security Council next year as a non-permanent member, he said: “We look forward to seeking collective solutions to global challenges, including global recovery from the pandemic and reform of multilateral institutions.”
The Indian side, in their reading on the meeting, said that the Ministers “called for a coordinated response to the challenges, including the financial problems emanating from the pandemic; need to share best practices to combat Covid-19; increase the resilience of supply chains; and improve access to affordable vaccines, medicines and medical equipment ”.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry said ministers welcomed “proactive efforts by other countries, including those in Europe, towards a” free and open Indo-Pacific. “Australian Foreign Minister Payne said that “it is vital that states work to ease tensions and avoid exacerbating long-standing disputes, work to counter misinformation and refrain from malicious activity in cyberspace.”
Earlier, according to the US State Department, Jaishankar and Pompeo discussed “ongoing cooperation on issues of international concern.” They “look forward to the 2 + 2 Ministerial Dialogue between the United States and India later this year,” he said.
Jaishankar tweeted: “I started my visit to Tokyo with a bilateral meeting with @SecPompeo. Delighted to see the progress of our association in so many fields. We will work together for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. “
Pompeo echoed the comments in a tweet: “Productive meeting today with Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar. Together we are advancing US-Indian relations, fighting COVID-19 and ensuring a safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific for all. “
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