QUAD summit calls for free, fair Indo-Pacific
The QUAD, a regional grouping seen as part of efforts to balance China’s growing military and economic power, called for the region to be free of “coercion”, in a hint at Chinese expansionism and military buildup in the region.
By IAR Desk
New Delhi, March 12,2020: At the very first summit under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States of America called for a “free, open and inclusive” and rule-based Indo-Pacific region that is “anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion”.
This is the first time that the leaders of the QUAD countries – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden – were deliberating on expanding and deepening cooperation in the region, through a virtual meeting.
The QUAD, a regional grouping seen as part of efforts to balance China’s growing military and economic power, called for the region to be free of “coercion”, in a hint at Chinese expansionism and military buildup in the region.
Also read: QUAD officials meet on promoting free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific region
Speaking at the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called QUAD an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region. “We are united by our democratic values, and our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Our agenda today covering areas like vaccines, climate change and emerging technologies makes the QUAD a force for global good.”
At the summit, held on the initiative of the US, President Biden said a free and open Indo-Pacific region was essential to the futures of all four countries.
“A free and open Indo Pacific is essential to each of our futures. The United States is committed to working with you, our partners, and all our allies in the region, to achieve stability,” he told the meeting from the White House.
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The White House says the virtual meeting of the countries known as the QUAD, the first at leader level, shows the importance Biden places on the Indo-Pacific region and that it will focus on ways to fight the coronavirus pandemic, as well as cooperate on economic growth and the climate crisis.
“We know our commitments…Our region is governed by international law, committed to all the universal values and free from coercion but I am optimistic about our prospect,” the President said.
This was also the first meeting between Modi and Biden. “It’s great to see you,” US President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the first ever QUAD summit that is being held virtually.
The summit deliberations included vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies which Prime Minister Modi said “makes QUAD a force for global good”.
The QUAD vaccine initiative is also an acknowledgement of India’s credentials as a reliable manufacturer and supplier of the vaccines, reaffirming the country’s stature as the “pharmacy of the world”.
QUAD nations agreed to pool their financial resources, manufacturing capabilities and logistical strengths to produce COVID-19 vaccine for distribution in the Indo-Pacific region.
US COVID-19 vaccines will be manufactured in India for distribution in the Indo-Pacific region and they would be financed by the US and Japan with logistical support from Australia. Under this initiative, India would produce a billion COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.
The four countries also plan to establish a series of working groups that will focus on climate change; critical and emerging technologies, including working to set technology standards and norms and jointly developing some of the critical technologies of the future, officials said.
Also read: Looking Beyond China: Strengthening Bilateral Relationships in the Quad
The QUAD leaders committed to holding an in-person leaders’ summit by the end of 2021.
The QUAD originated in 2004 when a core group from Australia, India, Japan and the United States was set up for a joint response to the Indian Ocean tsunami to undertake rescue and relief operations.
– With agency inputs
