Ukraine-like unilateral and forcible changes to staus quo should not be allowed in Indo-Pacific: Japan PM Fumio Kishida

 “We've agreed that unilateral changes to the status quo with force like this (citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) should not be allowed in the Indo-Pacific region… We've also agreed this development makes it even more important to work toward realising a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said to reporters after the meeting.

Japan Prime Minister  Fumio Kishida on Thursday asserted that Quad member states are unanimous that unilateral and forcible changes to the status quo, that is happening in Ukraine,  should not be allowed in Indo-Pacific region. 

The Japanese premier made this remark after a virtual QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) summit took place late on Thursday in which the leaders of the four Indo-Pacific nations reaffirmed their commitment to a free and secure Indo-Pacific.

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 “We've agreed that unilateral changes to the status quo with force like this (citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) should not be allowed in the Indo-Pacific region… We've also agreed this development makes it even more important to work toward realising a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said to reporters after the meeting.

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The leaders of the United States, India, Japan and Australia agreed to work towards an open Indo-Pacific where sovereignty and territorial integrity of all the Indo-Pacific nations is acknowledged and respected.

The Indo-Pacific countries must be “free from military, economic and political coercion,” of any kind, read a White House joint readout.

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The QUAD leaders held discussions on the geopolitical implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They have also agreed to hold a summit in-person meeting in Tokyo, Japan in the coming months.    

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They have also decided to step up the humanitarian efforts and disaster relief operations. Such coordination will embolden the QUAD to take up similar relief operations in the Indo-Pacific in the event of disasters in the region.

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The meeting was held at the request of the US.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar last month dismissed the notion that Quad grouping is Asian NATO. Terming it lazy analysis, he cautioned that such analogies are pushed forward by “interested parties” and the international community must not fall for it.

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Underlining the centrality of India in QUAD, the United States last month said that New Delhi was the 'driving force' of the four-nation group.

Amid the ongoing rescue operation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, an Indian student trying to flee Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has reportedly been shot at. The student has reportedly been admitted to a hospital.

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