New Delhi/Tokyo, PTI: In the midst of growing global concern over China's expansionist behaviour, India and three other member nations of the Quadrilateral coalition on Tuesday reaffirmed their collective vision for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The US has favoured making the grouping a "true security framework".
In his opening remarks at a ministerial meeting in Tokyo of the Quadrilateral coalition, also known as 'Quad', External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India remained committed to a rules-based world order, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
The in-person meeting of the foreign ministers of the 'Quad' comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia is taking place in the backdrop of China's growing aggressive military behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, South China Sea and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
Jaishankar also asserted that advancing security and economic interests of all countries having legitimate and vital interests in the Indo-Pacific remained a priority.
Ahead of the meeting, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Japanese publication Nikkei Asia about Washington's pitch for institutionalising the Quad. "Once we've institutionalised what we're doing -- the four of us together -- we can begin to build out a true security framework," he was quoted as saying by the publication.
Noting that it was a matter of satisfaction that the Indo-Pacific concept has gained increasingly wider acceptance, Jaishankar said, "As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, our nations have collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific." "We remain committed to upholding the rules-based international order, underpinned by the rule of law, transparency, freedom of navigation in the international seas, respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes," he said.
He said the meeting of the foreign ministers, despite the global pandemic, is a testimony to the importance that these consultations have gained, particularly in recent times.
The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China's increasing military muscle flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers in the last few years. The US has been favouring making Quad a security architecture to check China's growing assertiveness.
During his address at the meeting, Pompeo stressed on ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific and said the conversations among the countries of the grouping should aim to achieve that "good outcome".
