Giving shape to their security cooperation under the proposed quadrilateral coalition, India, the US, Japan and Australia on Sunday held their first official-level talks in Manila with a focus on keeping the Indo-Pacific region “free and open”, seen as a move to counter China’s aggressive behaviour in the area. Soon after the meeting, India, Australia and Japan issued separate statements listing the Indo-Pacific as the major area of the deliberations and resolved to expand cooperation to uphold a rules-based order and respect for international law in the strategically important region.
The meeting comes ahead of the ASEAN summit in Manila on Tuesday which is also likely to discuss the security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region and China’s military expansion in the South China Sea. In a statement, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said the consultations were held on issues of common interest in the Indo-Pacific region with a focus on cooperation based on converging vision and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the area. “They agreed that a free, open, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region serves the long-term interests of all countries in the region and of the world at large. The officials also exchanged views on addressing common challenges of terrorism and proliferation linkages impacting the region as well as on enhancing connectivity,” the MEA said.
In its statement, the Japanese foreign ministry said officials discussed measures to ensure a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the Indo- Pacific. “From this perspective, the participants discussed the direction for cooperation, including with countries in the region, in upholding the rules-based order and respect for international law in the Indo-Pacific,” it said. The Australian foreign ministry said the four countries shared a vision for increased prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific region and will work together to ensure that it “remains free and open”. “The officials examined ways to achieve common goals and address shared challenges in the region. This includes upholding the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, increase connectivity,” it said.
The MEA said the Indian side highlighted India’s ‘Act East’ policy as the cornerstone of its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. The meeting also deliberated on enhancing cooperation in dealing with challenges of terrorism and talked about tackling proliferation threats, including North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme. “Officials also agreed to work together to address threats to international peace and security posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including the DPRK’s (North Korea) nuclear and missile programmes,” the Australian foreign ministry said. It said the four countries committed to continuing the quadrilateral discussions and deepening cooperation on the basis of shared values and principles.
The MEA said, “The discussions focused on cooperation based on their converging vision and values for promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter- connected region that they share with each other and with other partners”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday and the security scenario in the Indo-Pacific region may figure in the meetings. The formation of a quadrilateral security dialogue comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan was first mooted around 10 years back but it did not see the light of day.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono in October had said that Tokyo favours the quadrilateral dialogue to further boost strategic partnership among the four countries. Reacting to the Japanese move, India had said it was open to working with like-minded countries on issues that advance its interests. The US had said it was looking at a “working-level” quadrilateral meeting in the near term with India, Japan and Australia. The US and Japan have been pushing for a deeper Indian role in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region.
Joint Secretary (South division) in the MEA, Vinay Kumar and Joint Secretary (East Asia) Pranay Verma attended the meeting. The move to set up the quadrilateral comes in the backdrop of growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. The use of the term “Indo-Pacific” by Trump has led to speculation that it may have something to do with Washington preparing the ground for a revival of the quadrilateral alliance between the US, Japan, Australia and India to counter China’s rise.
