Melbourne [Australia], February 11 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is working together to further peace and stability, and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts which address contemporary issues.

Addressing a press conference at the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Jaishankar said that the interactions among Quad partners (Australia, India, Japan, and the US) made it evident that robust bilateral relations between the respective countries, strategic convergences, and shared democratic values have all combined to make the group a vibrant and substantial framework. “We are building an agenda which seeks to further our shared vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. We are keen to work together to further peace and stability and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific through collective efforts which address contemporary issues,” said Jaishankar.

He also gave an insight into the works done by the Quad and discussed strategies for shared democratic values that have all combined to make the partnership a vibrant and substantial framework.
“In this context, we will continue to support our ASEAN partners in their efforts to uphold peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. Their centrality is important to recognize and reiterate,” said the EAM.

“We reviewed the Quad’s ongoing efforts to combat the Covid pandemic and agreed to expedite delivery of safe and affordable vaccines, support capacity building, and augment infrastructure for last-mile delivery,” he added. “Quad’s discussions and efforts to build resilient supply chains, enhance the availability of trusted critical technologies, counter disinformation and uphold rules-based multilateral trading system will contribute to fostering global economic resilience,” he added.

He further welcomed the Quad’s shared desire to address common global threats such as terrorism, strengthen maritime domain awareness, provide timely HADR assistance, and assist countries in the Indo-Pacific in the area of cybersecurity.

Jaishankar further reiterated to take forward Quad’s positive agenda which our endorsed by the leaders last year. “We will take steps to strengthen our existing people-to-people linkages through education programs and think tank dialogues as we conclude this very timely and valuable interaction. We will work together to give shape and substance to the Quad’s positive agenda to make it in the words of my Prime Minister, Narendra Modi – ‘a force for global good‘,” said Jaishankar.

He also thanked Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne for holding a productive meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers’. “Once again I thank the Government of Australia and in particular, my friend Marise Payne for the warmth, hospitality, and excellent arrangement for our visits and meetings,” said Jaishankar.

The EAM also said that they had the opportunity earlier in the day to meet collectively with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in an insightful, useful discussion before our own deliberations. It was the first meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers since the Quad Summit was held in the United States last year. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (ANI)

Quad expresses grave concerns over Myanmar crisis, calls for end to violence

Melbourne [Australia], February 11 (ANI): The Quad countries have expressed grave concerns about the crisis in Myanmar and called for an end to violence, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including foreigners, and unhindered humanitarian access.

“We reaffirm our support for ASEAN efforts to seek a solution in Myanmar and call on the military regime to urgently implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and swiftly return Myanmar to the path of democracy,” said the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States in a joint statement after the Quad Foreign Ministers‘ Meeting in Melbourne on Friday.

“We remain gravely concerned about the crisis in Myanmar and call for an end to violence, the release of all those arbitrarily detained, including foreigners, and unhindered humanitarian access,” the statement added.

The Quad countries also condemned ballistic missile launches of North Korea. “We condemn North Korea’s destabilizing ballistic missile launches in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs), reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea consistent with UNSCRs, and reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the issue of Japanese abductees,” read the statement.

The Quad countries also extended support to ASEAN partners to advance the practical implementation of ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. “As unwavering supporters of ASEAN unity and centrality, and the ASEAN-led architecture, we continue to support ASEAN partners to advance the practical implementation of ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The Outlook’s principles are fundamental to regional stability and prosperity and will be key to guiding the region’s economic and political future.

Quad countries emphasise adherence to UNCLOS to meet challenges to rules-based order in South and East China seas

Melbourne [Australia], February 11 (ANI): In a veiled dig at China, the Quad countries on Friday emphasized adherence to international law, including that reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas.

In a joint statement after their meeting here, Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States said Quad recognizes that international law, peace, and security in the maritime domain underpins the development and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad countries also said that they are committed to promoting the safety and security of sea lines of communication and to work with regional partners to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight.
“We are determined to deepen engagement with regional partners, including through capacity-building and technical assistance, to strengthen maritime domain awareness; protect their ability to develop offshore resources consistent with UNCLOS; ensure freedom of navigation and overflight; combat challenges, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and promote the safety and security of sea lines of communication,” the statement said.

“We reiterate the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas,” it added. An international tribunal formed under UNCLOS had in July 2016 ruled that China’s claims to historic and economic rights in most of the South China Sea have no legal basis.

The tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said China couldn’t claim historic rights in all the waters within a “nine-dash” line used by it to delineate its claims. China had rejected the tribunal’s ruling saying its “territorial sovereignty and marine rights” in the seas would not be affected by the ruling. The ruling pertained to China’s claims vis-a-vis the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The statement also said that Quad is exchanging information on ever-evolving threats and working with Indo-Pacific countries, and in multilateral fora, to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism.
“We denounce the use of terrorist proxies for cross-border terrorism and urge countries to work together to eliminate terrorist safe havens; disrupt terrorist networks and the infrastructure and financial channels which sustain them.” Reflecting Quad leaders’ commitment to cooperate to establish responsible and resilient clean-energy supply chains, the meeting welcomed Australia’s proposal to host an Indo-Pacific Clean Energy Supply Chain Forum in mid-2022.

“We reaffirm our belief that our people-to-people ties are among the Quad‘s greatest strengths and welcomed the United States’ new exchange programs in the fields of cyber security, maritime security, countering disinformation, and promoting transparency in governance. We are exploring a track 1.5 dialogue between our respective strategic thinkers,” the statement read.

The Ministers also welcomed other ongoing work in delivering Quad Leaders’ ambitious initiatives in key areas, such as the Quad Vaccine Partnership, climate change, cyber security, infrastructure, and the peaceful use of outer space, education, and critical and emerging technologies.

It was the first meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers since the Quad Summit was held in the United States last year. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (ANI) We acknowledge the importance of sub-regional mechanisms and institutions, including in the Mekong sub-region. We will continue to support Cambodia in its important role as 2022 ASEAN Chair,” said the Ministers in the statement. (ANI)