TOKYO: The four leaders of the “Quad”group of countries vowed on Tuesday to work together for a freeand open Indo-Pacific region and to fight climate change, asthey met for talks aimed at standing up to an increasinglyassertive China.
U.S. President Joe Biden, at the opening of talks with theleaders of three “close democratic partners”, including IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi, condemned Russia’s invasion ofUkraine as not just a European issue but a global one.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, echoed that, sayingthe same thing should not be allowed to happen in Asia.
Taiwan was not an official item on the Quad agenda, a U.S.official said, but it was expected to be an important topic aday after Biden broke with convention and volunteered U.S.military support for the self-governed island claimed by China.
“This is more than just a European issue, it’s a globalissue,” Biden said of the Ukraine, as the talks, which includeAustralia’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, got underway.
Biden stressed that the United States would stand with itsallies to push for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“Russia’s assault of Ukraine only heightens the importanceof those goals of fundamental principles of international order,territorial integrity and sovereignty. International law, humanrights must always be defended regardless of where they’reviolated in the world,” he said.
Kishida said the Russian invasion “shakes the foundation ofinternational order” and was a direct challenge to theprinciples of the United Nations.
“We should not allow similar things to happen in theIndo-Pacific region,” he said.
Modi made no comment on Ukraine or Russia in his remarks.India has frustrated the United States with what it regards as alack of support for U.S.-led sanctions and condemnation ofRussia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Though India has developed close U.S. ties in recent yearsand is a vital part of the Quad grouping aimed at pushing backagainst China, it also has a long-standing relationship withRussia, which remains a major supplier of its defense equipmentand oil supplies.
India abstained in U.N. Security Council votes on Russia’sinvasion, though it did raise concerns about some killings ofUkrainian civilians.
‘AMBITIOUS ACTION’
Australia’s Albanese, making his international debut asprime minister, told the group that his priorities were alignedwith theirs and he pledged to invest more in the battle againstclimate change in a region in which South Pacific island nationsface some of the most direct risks from rising seas.
“The region is looking to us to work with them and to leadby example,” he said.
“That’s why my government will take ambitious action onclimate change and increase our support to partners in theregion as they work to address it, including with new finance.”
On India’s stand on Ukraine, a U.S. official said Bidenwould seek out commonalities, emphasizing the importance of aface-to-face meeting.
“It’s true with all the members of quad there are somedifferences, the question is how they’re addressed and howthey’re managed,” the official said in a briefing to reportersbefore the talks.
One key question for the United States going into the Quadmeeting was how to wean India off Russian-supplied militaryequipment and whether to provide defense aid and other supportto India to accelerate that transition.
The United States is considering “investment support” of $4billion for India on top of billions of dollars extendedearlier, New Delhi said on Monday after the two sides signed anagreement on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, healthcare,renewable energy, financial inclusion and infrastructure.**
Australia’s Albanese, making his international debut asprime minister, told the group that his priorities were alignedwith theirs and he pledged to invest more in the battle againstclimate change in a region in which South Pacific island nationsface some of the most direct risks from rising seas.
“The region is looking to us to work with them and to leadby example,” he said.
“That’s why my government will take ambitious action onclimate change and increase our support to partners in theregion as they work to address it, including with new finance.”
On India’s stand on Ukraine, a U.S. official said Bidenwould seek out commonalities, emphasizing the importance of aface-to-face meeting.
“It’s true with all the members of quad there are somedifferences, the question is how they’re addressed and howthey’re managed,” the official said in a briefing to reportersbefore the talks.
One key question for the United States going into the Quadmeeting was how to wean India off Russian-supplied militaryequipment and whether to provide defense aid and other supportto India to accelerate that transition.
The United States is considering “investment support” of $4billion for India on top of billions of dollars extendedearlier, New Delhi said on Monday after the two sides signed an agreement on COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, healthcare, renewable energy, financial inclusion and infrastructure.
