Foreign ministers of the four Quad-members: India, US, Japan and Australia met in Tokyo, on Tuesday, 7 October, where Foreign Minister S Jaishankar talked about India’s commitment to a "rules-based international order, territorial integrity, sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes”, reported NDTV.
This development comes amid India-China’s ongoing border crisis, and Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea.
The Quad countries, according to NDTV, at the meeting laid emphasis on the importance of maintaining “a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.”
WHAT DID S JAISHANKAR SAY?
According to NDTV, Jaishankar stated: “Our objective remains advancing the security and the economic interests of all countries having legitimate and vital interests in the region.”
Further, according to The Indian Express, he said:
“As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, our nations have collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. We remain committed to upholding the rules-based international order, underpinned by the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the international seas, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes.”S Jaishankar, Foreign Minister
Jaishankar also emphasised on the need to have “coordinated response”, which according to The Indian Express, was said with an eye on China’s recent behaviour.
“The events of this year have clearly demonstrated how imperative it is for like-minded countries to coordinate responses to the various challenges that the pandemic has brought to the fore.”S Jaishankar, Foreign Minister
Further, Jaishankar referred to PM Modi’s speech in Bangkok from November, 2019 and expressed satisfaction on increasing acceptance on the Indo-Pacific concept.
Interestingly, while the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) referred to the meeting as a “second Australia-India-Japan-United States Consultations on regional and global issues of common interest”, according to The Indian Express, Jaishankar easily called it a Quad meeting in his tweets.
WHAT DID MIKE POMPEO SAY?
According to The Indian Express, US Secretary of State Micheal R Pompeo was the only one at the meeting to name China, in his remarks at the meeting.
“…as partners in this Quad…it is more critical now than ever that we collaborate to protect our people and partners from the CCP’s (Communist Party of China) exploitation, corruption, and coercion.”Micheal R Pompeo, US Secretary of State
Further, according to The Indian Express, Pompeo said: “We have seen it in the south, in the East China Sea, the Mekong, the Himalayas, the Taiwan Strait.”
POMPEO-JAISHANKAR BILATERAL MEET
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Tokyo on Tuesday, 6 October.
Tweeting about their meeting, Jaishankar wrote: “Began my Tokyo visit with a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pleased to see the progress of our partnership in so many fields. Will work together for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that India-US will work together, combating COVID-19, and ensuring a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific for all.
Pompeo and Jaishankar are presently in Tokyo, taking part in the second QUAD ministerial involving their counterparts from Australia and Japan.
This is their first time they have met since India’s recent border row and related developments with China, reported PTI.
PTI also reported that the State Department has shared that Pompeo is scheduled to meet new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi.
In an interaction with reporters travelling with him, Mike Pompeo said:
“It’s going to be a wonderful trip. It’s supporting something we’ve been working on for a long time to put together. To meet with our Quad partners is a project we’ve been preparing for. We’re hoping to have some significant announcements, significant achievements.”
The foreign ministers from the four countries are expected to discuss the challenges brought on by COVID-19, security and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific region and the importance of upholding a rules-based international system, reported PTI, citing the US embassy in Tokyo.
(With inputs from PTI.)
INDIA-JAPAN STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
EAM S Jaishankar also participated in an India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Tweeting about the same, Jaishankar wrote:
“Just concluded India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Conveyed warm birthday greetings. Discussions covered our cooperation in manufacturing, skills, infrastructure, ICT and health. Our special partnership can make big difference in post-COVID recovery.”
Further Jaishankar informed, on Twitter, that they explored further expansion of “our third country collaboration, with focus on development project.”
“Reviewed global situation and developments pertaining to UN reform. Our shared commitment can help realise stability, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, also informed that Jaishankar and Toshimitsu recognised the role being played by digital technologies and highlighted the need for “robust and resilient digital and cyber systems and in this context”.
The two minister also, reportedly, welcomed the finalisation of the text of the cybersecurity agreement between India and Japan.
According to the MEA, the cybersecurity agreement, “promotes cooperation in capacity building, research and development, security and resilience in the areas of Critical Information Infrastructure, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), among others.”
Further, according to the MEA statement the two minister exchanged views on regional and global issues that pertained to the interests of both. They “agreed that the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries will play a pivotal role in overcoming challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic”, said MEA.
MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN FM
Earlier, in the day S Jaishankar also tweeted about a “warm meeting” with the Australian Foreign Minister.
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