WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2 (ANI): Foreign ministers of the Quad nations—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—met in Washington, D.C., on July 1 to reaffirm their commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. In a joint statement following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM), the four leaders expressed serious concern over the ongoing tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, calling out unilateral actions that disrupt regional peace and stability.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong jointly condemned “dangerous and provocative actions,” such as interference with offshore resource development, obstruction of navigation and overflight freedoms, and unsafe military maneuvers—including the use of water cannons and ramming vessels.
“We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea,” the joint statement read. “We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.”
The statement further emphasized that such actions threaten regional stability and highlighted the importance of upholding international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The ministers called for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes and reaffirmed the validity of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award, which serves as a legal basis for resolving disputes in the South China Sea.
The ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, stating, “We are committed to a region where all countries are free from coercion and strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.”
The leaders also unveiled a new agenda to enhance Quad’s impact, focused on four strategic areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. “Through this renewed focus, we will sharpen the Quad’s ability to leverage our resources to address the region’s most pressing challenges,” the statement noted.
In addition to regional security concerns, the ministers expressed alarm over the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key global supply chains, especially regarding critical minerals. They criticized non-market practices and highlighted the risks of overreliance on a single country for processing and refining essential materials. “This reliance exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security,” the statement said.
The Quad also addressed the growing threat from North Korea. The ministers condemned Pyongyang’s repeated ballistic missile launches and its continued development of nuclear weapons in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and expressed grave concern over North Korea’s malicious cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft and the use of overseas workers to fund its weapons programs.
Calling for immediate international action, the ministers urged all UN member states to fully implement sanctions on North Korea and prohibit the transfer of arms and related materials. They also voiced concern over growing military cooperation between North Korea and other nations, which they said undermines the global non-proliferation regime.
The Quad ministers concluded the meeting by pledging continued support for ASEAN centrality, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), emphasizing the importance of working with regional partners to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.
This meeting marks another step forward in strengthening strategic cooperation among the Quad countries as they collectively address mounting challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. (ANI)
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