External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized on Monday that collaboration among the Quad nations is crucial to maintaining a free, open, stable, and secure Indo-Pacific, particularly as the world faces the challenge of upholding a rules-based order amid increasing maritime coercion from China.
In his opening remarks at the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, Jaishankar highlighted the significant responsibilities of Quad members. "As political democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, there is the key question of upholding a rules-based order," he stated.
The Quad comprises Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. Jaishankar asserted that only through their collaboration can the Indo-Pacific region remain free, open, stable, secure, and prosperous. He added that the Quad's commitment to global good extends far beyond the region.
"It is vital that our political understanding strengthens, economic partnerships grow, technology collaborations expand, and people-to-people connections intensify," Jaishankar said.
"Our meeting should clearly demonstrate that the Quad is here to stay, here to act, and here to grow," he added.
The Quad was officially formed in November 2017 by India, Japan, the US, and Australia to develop a strategy ensuring the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific remain free from any single nation's influence. Specifically, the South China Sea is located at the junction of the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is also a disputed area, with China claiming almost the whole sea, whereas the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have competing claims. There is also, in the East China Sea, a dispute over maritime issues between China and Japan.
Jaishankar said, "Well, the challenge is of these times; how to keep the tempo of growth of the world while stemming its associated risks." He pointed out that resilient supply chains were needed, and transparent digital partnerships to underscore the point that technology has profoundly impacted how people today "live, think, and act".
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