In the inaugural gathering of Trump 2.0, Quad Issues Stern Warning to China
In the inaugural gathering of Trump 2.0, Quad Issues Stern Warning to China
On his first full day in office Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio initiated the first ministerial meeting of the Quad with counterparts Penny Wong from Australia, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar from India, and Takeshi Iwaya from Japan in Washington. Additionally, Rubio hosted separate discussions with each of the foreign ministers.
During this initial Quad assembly, the leaders collectively cautioned against any attempts to alter the existing situation in the Indo-Pacific through forceful means, subtly admonishing China for its maritime endeavors. This meeting represented the first engagement among key diplomats of this China-focused coalition since Trump's return to the presidency.
Rubio engaged in discussions with Australian Penny Wong, Indian Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japanese Takeshi Iwaya in Washington. In a united statement, the four nations reaffirmed their "common pledge to enhance a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, where the rule of law, democratic principles, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are protected and promoted."
"The statement expressed strong opposition to any one-sided actions aimed at forcibly altering the status quo," highlighting concerns regarding China's potential moves regarding its claim over Taiwan, a democratically governed area.
The ministers also reiterated their commitment to organize a Quad summit that was originally planned for this year in India, which would entail an early visit by Trump to this expanding US ally that is often seen in Washington as a defense against China.
Jaishankar noted on X, "It is noteworthy that the Quad (foreign ministers’ meeting) occurred just hours after the Trump Administration's inauguration."
He further remarked that "this emphasizes the importance of the Quad in the foreign policy priorities of its member states."
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