Without mentioning China, QUAD joint-statement bats for free and open Indo-Pacific
Biznextindia : The QUAD Countries consisting of the US, India, Japan and Australia have reiterated their commitment for promoting free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The joint statement released by ‘the White House’ on the behalf of the QUAD, read “We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states. We commit to work together and with a range of partners. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEAN’s unity and centrality and for ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and we underscore our dedication towards working with ASEAN and its member states—the heart of the Indo-Pacific region—in practical and inclusive ways”.
While, the joint statement has batted for rule of law and freedom of navigations in the context of rising Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, it has not mentioned ‘China’ even for the single time.
In the context of Afghanistan crisis, the QUAD has affirmed that Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts, and reiterate the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan.
The member countries have denounced the use of terrorist proxies and emphasized the importance of denying any logistical, financial or military support to terrorist groups which could be used to launch or plan terror attacks, including cross-border attacks.
“In South Asia, we will closely coordinate our diplomatic, economic, and human-rights policies towards Afghanistan and will deepen our counter-terrorism and humanitarian cooperation in the months ahead in accordance with UNSCR 2593” the Joint statement read.
On COVID-19 pandemic, the QUAD members countries, in addition to reinforcing the COVAX effort, have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion doses globally of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
“The Quad also welcomes India’s announcement to resume exports of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, including to COVAX, beginning in October 2021. Japan will continue to help regional partners purchase vaccines through $3.3 billion of COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan. Australia will deliver $212 million in grant aid to purchase vaccines for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In addition, Australia will allocate $219 million to support last-mile vaccine rollouts and lead in coordinating the Quad’s last-mile delivery efforts in those regions” the Joint statement read.