Quad Summit: Jaishankar says South China Sea an 'issue of great concern'; Joint statement opposes forceful actions

NEW DELHI: During the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Washington, S Jaishankar, external affairs minister, highlighted that the South China Sea remained an "issue of great concern" for all four member nations.

The four nations - the United States, India, Australia, and Japan - expressed their unified stance on maintaining peace and preventing conflict in the waterway, considering their collective interests in the region.

Jaishankar elaborated that discussions centred on the South China Sea disputes, emphasising the importance of finding solutions.

"On South China Sea, there was some discussion as it is an issue of great concern... The issue is to find a solution to the disputes pertaining to that. The Quad members all have a shared interest because for us it's a very important international waterway, how to ensure that it stays calm and free of conflict is something which is a common priority," Jaishankar said.

The meeting concluded with a joint statement from the four nations expressing firm opposition to forceful or coercive unilateral actions aimed at altering the status quo.

"We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," the joint statement read.

The statement detailed concerns about the East and South China Sea situations, specifically addressing dangerous activities including interference with offshore resources, obstruction of navigation rights, hazardous military manoeuvres, and aggressive actions by coast guard and maritime militia vessels.

The ministers expressed worry about regional stability threats and disputed features' militarisation. They stressed the importance of maintaining navigation freedom, overflight rights, and unhindered commerce as per international law and UNCLOS.

"We emphasize the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," the statement read.

The Quad ministers reinforced their dedication to protecting rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity across the Indo-Pacific region, explicitly opposing coercive actions that threaten to alter the status quo.

The meeting focused on addressing regional challenges and opportunities, exploring ways to utilise the Quad's combined capabilities to enhance regional peace and prosperity alongside local partners.