External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that the South China Sea was a key focus during the Quad Foreign Minister’s meeting in Washington. The Quad nations – the U.S., India, Australia, and Japan – share a common interest in the region’s stability and freedom of navigation. The meeting produced a joint statement opposing actions that undermine the existing order through force or coercion. The statement further voiced serious concerns about dangerous actions, including actions that interfere with offshore resource development and obstruct freedom of navigation. The Quad reiterated its commitment to the rule of law and territorial integrity in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing their focus on peaceful resolutions.
