In the context of the India-China border standoff, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that New Delhi remains committed to a rules-based world order, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Jaishankar made the remarks in his opening speech at the second ministerial meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad in Tokyo without naming China. The meeting focused on the issue of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the region.
He also said that this year’s events have shown how “imperative it is that like-minded countries coordinate responses to the various challenges that the pandemic has exposed.”
“As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, our nations have collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” Jaishankar said at the meeting, which was also attended by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu. Motegi and the Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo.
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“We remain committed to defending 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,” he added. .
With India set to begin a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council next year, Jaishankar said the country hopes to “seek collective solutions to global challenges, including the global recovery from the pandemic and the reform of multilateral institutions “. ”.
Since May, tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in a tense standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Royal Line of Control. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 in a brutal clash in the Galwan Valley, which also resulted in unspecified Chinese casualties.
All four Quad members have serious differences with China: the Australian government has pledged to halt projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Japan is concerned about Chinese intrusions near the Senkaku Islands, and the US is involved. in a trade war. and has opposed aggressive Chinese activities in the South China Sea.
Jaishankar noted that the fact that the four foreign ministers met in person, despite the global pandemic, is “a testament to the importance these consultations have gained, particularly in recent times.” He added: “Our world is significantly different today than it was when we last met in New York in September 2019.”
India’s goal remains to promote the security and economic interests of all countries that have legitimate and vital interests in the region, he said. “It is a source of satisfaction that the Indo-Pacific concept has gained increasing acceptance,” he said.
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Jaishankar and his counterparts from Australia, Japan, and the US were expected to discuss issues such as plans for the manufacture and distribution of a Covid-19 vaccine, connectivity, 5G technology development, maritime cooperation, combating the terrorism, cybersecurity and the development of critical infrastructure and supply chains, people familiar with the developments said on condition of anonymity.
The issue of Australia’s inclusion in the Malabar naval exercise to be conducted by India, Japan and the United States later this year is also expected to feature in the Quad discussions, which was updated at the ministerial level in September last year.
Prior to the Quad meeting, Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Tokyo. “I am pleased to see the progress of our association in so many fields. We will work together for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, ”he tweeted after the meeting.
The Quad’s foreign ministers also called Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga.
Jaishankar plans to hold separate meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that the Quad foreign ministers will discuss the “post-Covid-19 international order and the need for a coordinated response to the various challenges emerging from the pandemic.” They will also discuss regional issues and “collectively affirm the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” he said.
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