S Jaishankar said India remains committed to “upholding the rules-based international order”
New Delhi:
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar today underlined India’s commitment to “a rules-based international order, territorial integrity, sovereignty and peaceful settlement of disputes” during the meeting of Quad – four major Indo-Pacific democracies of India, USA, Japan, and Australia. In the context of the border dispute with China and the aggressive military behavior of the Southeast Asian giant in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea, the four countries reaffirmed the importance of maintaining an Indo- Free, open and inclusive Pacific.
India, the minister said, remains committed to “upholding the rules-based international order underpinned by the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in international seas, respect for integrity. territorial and sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes ”.
“Our goal remains to advance the security and economic interests of all countries with legitimate and vital interests in the region,” Jaishankar said at the Tokyo meeting.
At today’s meeting, the four countries agreed to step up coordination to create a free and open Indo-Pacific. The meeting, hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, was also attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
Mr Pompeo has taken a hard line on China, calling on Asian allies to unite against Beijing’s “exploitation, corruption and coercion” in the region.
It is “more critical than ever that we collaborate to protect our people and our partners from the exploitation, corruption and coercion of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party),” he added, citing the actions of the Communist Party. China in the seas of southern and eastern China, Hong Kong Himalayas, the Taiwan Strait … these are just a few examples, ”he added.
This is the second meeting of the Quad, formed in 2017 to cooperate on issues of economic and regional security – which are being overcome by China’s growing belligerence in the region. The group has been denounced by China as an obstacle to its growth.
For years, China has been embroiled in territorial disputes in China’s resource-rich South and East Seas, a region said to have abundant reserves of minerals, oil and other natural resources.
Beijing is claiming sovereignty over the entire South China Sea in areas where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.
In the East China Sea, China has territorial disputes with Japan.
