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Wednesday, 19 February, 2025

Quad Foreign Ministers Meet in Washington, Highlighting Trump’s Focus on China

Express Desk
  23 Jan 2025, 03:23
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi at the State Department in Washington, US, Jan 21, 2025.

The United States, Australia, India, and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration on Tuesday, following the first meeting of the China-focused "Quad" grouping's senior diplomats since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

In a joint statement issued after the talks in Washington, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first day in office, the four nations announced plans to meet regularly in preparation for an upcoming leaders' summit in India, expected later this year.

The four countries share concerns over China’s expanding influence, and analysts believe the meeting was a clear signal that countering Beijing is a top priority for Trump, who began his second term on Monday.

Rubio, prior to the meeting, had emphasized his focus on working with allies "on the things that matter most to America and Americans."

Before the meeting at the State Department, Rubio posed with Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya in front of the flags of their respective countries. However, he did not take questions from reporters.

"Significant that the Quad (foreign ministers’ meeting) took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump administration," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting. "This underscores the priority it holds in the foreign policy of its member states."

The four nations reiterated their "shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," emphasizing the defense of the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as stated in the joint communiqué.

 

"We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," it said, an apparent reference to the threat that China will act on its claim to sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan.

This includes tensions in the East China Sea, where Japan is engaged in a territorial dispute with China, and in the contested South China Sea, according to a later statement from Japan's government.

Iwaya also expressed concerns over North Korea's ongoing nuclear weapons and missile development, urging support in resolving the issue of past abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea.

In separate bilateral meetings, Iwaya told Senator Rubio and Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, that Japan had no choice but to continue strengthening its defence capabilities given the current security environment in East Asia, as stated by Japanese Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura during a news conference.

Japan is undertaking its most significant military buildup since World War II, with plans to double defense spending by 2027. The return of Trump has led to expectations that Washington may push its allies to increase defense spending even further.

Iwaya also urged Rubio to help create an environment where Japanese businesses can invest in the U.S. without concerns.

Earlier this month, former President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel’s proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, citing national security concerns. This move has raised concerns among Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who expressed regret and fears about the impact on future investments in the U.S.

Japan hopes to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Ishiba sometime in February or March, according to Kitamura.

Rubio also held separate meetings with Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

A key priority for Australia was securing assurances from Washington regarding the AUKUS defense project, which aims to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons like hypersonic missiles—topics Trump has yet to comment on publicly.

Wong described her discussions with Rubio on AUKUS as "very positive," and the two also covered topics like bilateral defense cooperation, critical minerals, and global supply chain security, as outlined by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister hailed the longstanding US-Australia alliance as foundational to international security and prosperity, particularly in a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific free from coercion," she added.

Wong expressed strong optimism about future opportunities.

China has condemned the Quad as a Cold War relic and warned that the AUKUS pact would escalate a regional arms race.

Officials from the Trump administration are working on arranging another Quad foreign ministers’ meeting at the White House, according to a person involved in the planning.

The Quad met frequently during former President Biden’s administration, focusing on Beijing’s military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, where U.S. allies have pushed back against China’s territorial claims.

The grouping has also committed to enhancing cooperation in cybersecurity, safeguarding supply chains, and protecting critical infrastructure, including undersea cables.

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Quad Foreign Ministers Meet in Washington, Highlighting Trump’s Focus on China

Express Desk
  23 Jan 2025, 03:23
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi at the State Department in Washington, US, Jan 21, 2025.

The United States, Australia, India, and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration on Tuesday, following the first meeting of the China-focused "Quad" grouping's senior diplomats since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.

In a joint statement issued after the talks in Washington, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first day in office, the four nations announced plans to meet regularly in preparation for an upcoming leaders' summit in India, expected later this year.

The four countries share concerns over China’s expanding influence, and analysts believe the meeting was a clear signal that countering Beijing is a top priority for Trump, who began his second term on Monday.

Rubio, prior to the meeting, had emphasized his focus on working with allies "on the things that matter most to America and Americans."

Before the meeting at the State Department, Rubio posed with Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya in front of the flags of their respective countries. However, he did not take questions from reporters.

"Significant that the Quad (foreign ministers’ meeting) took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump administration," Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting. "This underscores the priority it holds in the foreign policy of its member states."

The four nations reiterated their "shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," emphasizing the defense of the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as stated in the joint communiqué.

 

"We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," it said, an apparent reference to the threat that China will act on its claim to sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan.

This includes tensions in the East China Sea, where Japan is engaged in a territorial dispute with China, and in the contested South China Sea, according to a later statement from Japan's government.

Iwaya also expressed concerns over North Korea's ongoing nuclear weapons and missile development, urging support in resolving the issue of past abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea.

In separate bilateral meetings, Iwaya told Senator Rubio and Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, that Japan had no choice but to continue strengthening its defence capabilities given the current security environment in East Asia, as stated by Japanese Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura during a news conference.

Japan is undertaking its most significant military buildup since World War II, with plans to double defense spending by 2027. The return of Trump has led to expectations that Washington may push its allies to increase defense spending even further.

Iwaya also urged Rubio to help create an environment where Japanese businesses can invest in the U.S. without concerns.

Earlier this month, former President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel’s proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, citing national security concerns. This move has raised concerns among Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who expressed regret and fears about the impact on future investments in the U.S.

Japan hopes to arrange a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Ishiba sometime in February or March, according to Kitamura.

Rubio also held separate meetings with Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

A key priority for Australia was securing assurances from Washington regarding the AUKUS defense project, which aims to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapons like hypersonic missiles—topics Trump has yet to comment on publicly.

Wong described her discussions with Rubio on AUKUS as "very positive," and the two also covered topics like bilateral defense cooperation, critical minerals, and global supply chain security, as outlined by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister hailed the longstanding US-Australia alliance as foundational to international security and prosperity, particularly in a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific free from coercion," she added.

Wong expressed strong optimism about future opportunities.

China has condemned the Quad as a Cold War relic and warned that the AUKUS pact would escalate a regional arms race.

Officials from the Trump administration are working on arranging another Quad foreign ministers’ meeting at the White House, according to a person involved in the planning.

The Quad met frequently during former President Biden’s administration, focusing on Beijing’s military and economic activities in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, where U.S. allies have pushed back against China’s territorial claims.

The grouping has also committed to enhancing cooperation in cybersecurity, safeguarding supply chains, and protecting critical infrastructure, including undersea cables.

Comments

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Cairo Building Collapse Claims 10 Lives, Several Missing Under Rubble
Freed Palestinian Medic Alleges Torture, Starvation in Israeli Detentiontion Center
Over 40 Killed in Deadly Mine Collapse in Mali's Gold-Rich Region
At Least 15 Killed in Overcrowding Tragedy at New Delhi Railway Station: NDTV