The foreign ministers of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia reached a number of outcomes and consensuses in a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere at the just-concluded "Quadruple Security Dialogue" (Quad) in New Delhi, India. Several foreign ministers compared themselves to "The Beatles" at the meeting. Why? Why do China and Russia criticize in unison that this is a small circle?
On March 3 , the foreign ministers of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia concluded the "Quadruple Security Dialogue" ( Quad ) in New Delhi, India. In a public discussion, the four foreign ministers compared themselves to the British "Beatles", which aroused the applause and laughter of the audience.
" The Beatles are a regular, they've been on the same stage for more than ten years, but Paul McCartney ( Paul McCartney ) also has a solo album . " When asked how to define the role of the "Quad" ( Quad ), music fan Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Fangzheng followed the analogy proposed by US Secretary of State Blinken who also loves music : " Quad" is like a more flexible " The Beatles", " The trust between the four of us - based on shared values, such as democracy and freedom, allows us to communicate freely in the Quad ."
The Quad is a variable geometry, Blinken said , " a disparate collection of countries, some informal alliances, some loose partnerships, some based on bilateral relationships, some slightly larger blocs " . The idea behind this, he said, was " to make sure we have the capacity to take on any particular challenge " .
Australian Foreign Minister Huang Yingxian went on to say that when the four countries get together, what we discuss is "what we are thinking about together, not what we are against." She said that the core values that bring the four countries together are openness, tolerance, stability, and security. and respect for sovereignty.
The tacit understanding and atmosphere of the four foreign ministers coming and going on the stage made the host of the event, Indian scholar Samir Saran (Samir Saran) ask several times,
"When we meet, there is always a sense of relief." Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar said with a smile.
The "Quad" ( Quad ) was first formed in 2007 as a coalition of democracies led by the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. After several years of silence, in 2017 , the foreign minister-level talks were resumed under the then President Trump of the United States. In 2021 , U.S. President Joe Biden will elevate the Quad to the summit level and start cooperation in vaccines, supply chains, technology, disaster relief, and maritime affairs.
Speaking of Quad 's "resurrection", Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, who witnessed the whole process, analyzed two reasons : " First, the strategies of all relevant countries have become clearer. Second, relations between countries have changed during this period." He observed that the Indo-Pacific Enthusiasm and willingness to join the Quad is increasing in many countries.
" (Quad) The biggest impetus is of course China." Xia Ming, a professor of political science at the City University of New York, told this station, "Japan feels the impact of China's expansion on the Indo-Pacific region, and India is also uneasy about China."
On March 3 , the foreign ministers of the four countries opposed the use and threat of nuclear weapons in a joint statement, and at the same time resolutely opposed the challenges faced by the rules-based maritime order. Although the statement did not directly name China, it emphasized the importance of "observing international law" in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. "We strongly oppose any unilateral actions that attempt to change the status quo or increase regional tensions."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning once again criticized Quad as an exclusive group in the usual Chinese official tone . " We have always believed that cooperation among countries should conform to the trend of the times for peace and development, and should not be exclusive and closed circles. "
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov joined Chinese officials in denouncing the expansion of the Quad to other Indo-Pacific countries and accusing Washington of trying to "militarize" the Quad security dialogue.
" Beijing may be angry at the quartet's alliance, but the Chinese Communist Party has only itself to blame. The Chinese Communist Party 's belligerence and expansion, from the South China Sea and the Sino-Indian border to the East China Sea and Taiwan, are closing the distance between Washington, Tokyo, New Delhi and Canberra. distance .” Michael Sobolik, a researcher on Indo-Pacific affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council ( American Foreign Policy Council ) , told this station that he predicts that in the next few years, “ the leadership of the quartet will be more closely united in the Together."
Quad Eyes South China Sea China to Negotiate South China Sea Code of Conduct with ASEAN
"This (Quad) is not a military bloc, this is not that kind of alliance." Blinken emphasized, "Our proposition is not to say to the countries in the region : You have to make a choice. We are providing a choice, providing a positive choice .”
Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng echoed Blinken's statement, " This is not a military organization, but to promote practical cooperation. We don't want to exclude anyone. This is an open structure. One of the things we want to promote is compliance with international law and the laws of international institutions." .As long as China also abides by the rules of international norms and acts in accordance with international systems, standards and laws, then this is not a matter of conflict between China and the Quartet."
While the "Quadruple Security Dialogue" is focusing on the South China Sea issue, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that representatives of China and ASEAN member states will meet in Jakarta from March 8 to 10 to negotiate on the formulation of the South China Sea Code of Conduct . Indonesia is the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2023 .