Foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia and India have agreed to cooperate in maintaining and strengthening maritime order, apparently with increasing maritime activities by countries such as China in mind.
The four-way talks took place in Tokyo on Monday. This is the first time in four years that the Quad’s top diplomats have met in Japan.
Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko chaired the meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
At the beginning, Kamikawa said it is important for the four countries, which share the same values, to work together in achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.
During the meeting, the four ministers reaffirmed their strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.
The diplomats confirmed that their countries will jointly address regional challenges, including cybersecurity. They also agreed to provide support for the development of a telecommunications network called Open RAN as well as improving law-enforcement capabilities at sea.
Other areas in which the ministers agreed to cooperate include dealing with disinformation and promoting the involvement of women in conflict prevention, known as “Women, Peace and Security.”
The Quad ministers issued a joint statement after the talks.
After the meeting, Kamikawa said the four ministers were able to have an in-depth exchange of opinions. She added the four countries affirmed their commitment to resolving challenges while paying attention to regional needs.