Quad Ministers Meet to Counter China's Influence in Asia-Pacific
Top diplomats from Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India, known as the Quad, met in Tokyo on Monday to discuss ways to counter China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region. The meeting resulted in a set of initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime security, cybersecurity, and support for other countries in the region.
The ministers expressed "serious concern" about the tensions in the South China Sea and "strong opposition" to unilateral changes to the status quo by coercion. They specifically mentioned the "militarization of disputed features and coercive and intimidating maneuvers" in the region, without directly naming China.
Several regional governments dispute China's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, which is home to crucial maritime trade routes and potential energy reserves. Beijing also claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory, threatening to annex it by force if necessary.
Launching a maritime legal dialogue to focus on the international law of the sea.
Expanding their partnership to include the Indian Ocean to enhance maritime domain awareness.
Supporting the installation of a secure telecommunications network in Palau and building cybersecurity capacity in the Philippines and India.
Improving the region's connectivity through the development of resilient infrastructure such as undersea cables.
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation, overflight, and the unimpeded flow of lawful maritime commerce, which they believe are critical to the region's security and prosperity.
They acknowledged the increasing uncertainty in the international situation due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and North Korea's missile advancement, emphasizing the importance of stability in maritime, cyber, and space domains for regional prosperity.
The Quad nations aim to protect the foundations of prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and achieve an international community of coexistence and coprosperity. They believe that disputes should be managed by rules, talking, and cooperation, not by force or power.
This meeting follows the "2+2" security meeting between Japan and the United States on Sunday, where they designated China as "the greatest strategic challenge." They agreed to deepen military cooperation by upgrading command structures and bolstering Japanese production and repair of U.S.-licensed weapons.
The Quad ministers' meeting and the Japan-U.S. security talks demonstrate the growing concern among regional powers about China's assertive behavior and their commitment to working together to maintain a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.