Tokyo
The Quad issued a joint statement on Monday with a clear message to China, declaring its firm commitment to a free Indian Pacific Ocean. He also pledged to work for regions where no country dominates the other. The Quad also said that every region is free from all kinds of oppression.
At a meeting of the Quad countries in Tokyo on Monday, the foreign ministers called for maintaining an international order based on free and open rules and respect for the principles of freedom, human rights, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. He also reiterated that the Quad would strongly oppose any unilateral actions.
The ministers stressed the importance of adhering to international law to address global maritime rule-based challenges, including in the South and East China Seas. It also condemned all acts of violent extremism, including cross-border terrorism.
Plan to expand IPMD
The Quad grouping on Monday announced the expansion of its ambitious' Indian Pacific Ocean Maritime Domain Awareness' (IBMDA) programme to the Indian Ocean region. This makes it easier to monitor. The announcement was made after the 'Quad' foreign ministerial meeting on China's increasing incursions in the Indian Ocean, the mainstay of the Indian Navy.
The Quad is working for a free Indo-Pacific, which is a powerful stabilizing factor in an unstable world. Quad is not a discussion forum. Consider the practical implications. The four countries are working together for the global good. - S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs
