“Wolf-Warrior Diplomacy,”, popular among the hawks in Beijing has reinforced the transition of Chinese diplomacy from conservative, passive, and low-key to assertive, proactive, and high-profile.
Top defense officials from India and the United States pledged Saturday to expand their military engagement, underscoring the strengthening defense ties between two countries concerned over China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
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.
The envoy’s comments came nearly two weeks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the Western powers of pursuing an “aggressive and devious” policy to engage New Delhi in “anti-China games” by promoting Indo-Pacific strategies.
During the meeting, the officials reviewed recent strategic developments throughout the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Mekong sub-region.
Speaking at a meeting of the state-run think-tank Russian International Affairs Council via a video link on Tuesday, Lavrov said the West is seeking to reinstate the unipolar world order that would include all states but for Russia and China with which it would deal later.
The exercise, being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise in view of COVID-19 pandemic, will showcase the high-levels of synergy and coordination between the friendly navies, which is based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.
The two ministers also concurred that the Indo-Pacific has acquired greater salience in recent times and underscored the need for India and Japan to work together for the benefit of the region.
Addressing the 2nd Quad ministerial meeting, Prime Minister Suga said a free and open Indo-Pacific is “widely recognised by the international community as a vision of peace and prosperity of this region,” and that his government’s basic policy is to “further continue advancing our members to this end.”
The concept of the Indo-Pacific has incorporated India into the larger solution and the Trump administration is developing new arrangements to coordinate with like-minded partners like the Quad countries, a top American diplomat has told lawmakers.