On Monday, the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India voiced "serious concern" about the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, indirectly criticizing Beijing's actions.
After discussions in Tokyo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from the Quad group released a joint statement advocating for a "free and open" Pacific. Although China was not explicitly mentioned, the statement alluded to recent confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the disputed waters.
"We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," the statement declared. The ministers also condemned the militarization of disputed regions and the use of coercive tactics in the South China Sea.
Additionally, the Quad criticized North Korea's missile launches as destabilizing.
China reacted sharply, accusing the Quad of "creating tension, inciting confrontation, and containing the development of other countries."
Blinken's tour of Asia-Pacific nations aims to bolster regional cooperation amid Beijing's increasing assertiveness and closer ties with Russia.
The Quad meeting in Tokyo, the first since September, featured Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, India's S. Jaishankar, and Australia's top diplomat Penny Wong.
Rising Tensions and Regional Responses
Their statement was more restrained than a separate communique from Blinken, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and their Japanese counterparts, who criticized both China and Russia more explicitly. The US and Japan accused China of trying to reshape the international order for its own benefit and condemned Russia's growing military cooperation with China.
India's reliance on Russian arms and recent interactions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin complicate Quad's unified stance.
China responded by urging Japan and the US to "stop creating imaginary enemies" and accused them of maligning its foreign policy.
Maritime Disputes and Strategic Concerns
The Philippines, next on Blinken and Austin's itinerary, is engaged in a territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea. The potential for violent clashes has raised concerns that the US, as an ally of the Philippines, could be drawn into a conflict. The South China Sea is a critical maritime route, with trillions of dollars' worth of trade passing through annually.
"We are charting a course for a more secure and open Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region by bolstering maritime security and domain awareness," Blinken stated after the talks.
Kamikawa emphasized the Quad's commitment to "cooperate for the coexistence and co-prosperity of the international community."
However, Bec Strating, a professor of international relations at La Trobe University, noted that the Quad's diverse agendas sometimes lead to mixed messages. While the Quad aims to present itself as a preferable partner in the region compared to China, global issues like the war in Ukraine reveal differences among the member countries.
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