The opening of the US-Japan-India-Australia four-party security dialogue reiterated the promotion of “free and open” in the Indo-Pacific region
2021-09-25 09:47:38Source: China News Network
Chinanews, September 25, comprehensive foreign media reports, US President Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Australian Prime Minister Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Modi held the “Quad Security Dialogue” (Quad) at the White House on the 24th local time. In face-to-face talks, it was reiterated that the four countries would strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and it is expected that progress will be made in cooperation in the new crown vaccine, infrastructure, technology and climate.
This is the first face-to-face meeting of the four heads of state after the video meeting held in March 2021. In his opening speech, Biden described that the four “democracies” have come together to cope with challenges from the new crown epidemic to climate, and mentioned that the Quad vaccine plan is expected to produce 1 billion doses of vaccine in India to increase global supply.
In addition, according to the statement before the White House meeting, the leaders of the four countries will focus on discussing deepening relations, practical cooperation in fields such as emerging technology and cyberspace, and promoting a “free and open Indo-Pacific region.” The talks will also include strengthening the protection of the smoothness of the semiconductor supply chain.
Biden held bilateral talks with Modi on the morning of the 24th, and the leaders of the four countries held a summit in the afternoon. After the summit, Biden will meet with Yoshihide Suga.
A week ago, the United States, Britain and Australia announced the establishment of a Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS). In particular, the United States and Britain indicated that they would assist Australia in developing nuclear-powered submarines, which attracted international attention. However, US officials tried to downplay the issue of regional security, saying: “What I want to emphasize is that Quad is an informal gathering.” And saying that it is “not a regional security organization” and “has no connection with AUKUS.”
Australian Prime Minister Morrison stated that the four countries hope that “the Indo-Pacific region will not be coerced, the sovereignty of the countries in the region will be respected, and disputes between countries can also be handled peacefully in accordance with international law.”
Senior US officials said that the meeting focused on discussing plans to provide hundreds of millions of new crown vaccines to Asia by 2022 at the latest. Previously, the four countries agreed to launch vaccine distribution at the March meeting, but India restricted vaccine exports due to the domestic outbreak in April, resulting in the suspension of the plan. India is the world‘s largest vaccine manufacturer.
India has stated that it is ready to resume vaccine exports in the fourth quarter and will give priority to implementing India’s commitments under the Global Coronary Disease Vaccine Access Mechanism (COVAX) to take the lead in providing vaccines to neighboring countries. When US Vice President Harris met with Modi, he welcomed India’s decision to resume vaccine exports.
As for the meeting between Biden and Yoshihide Suga, US officials said that although Yoshihide Suga has announced that he will step down, Biden still looks forward to the meeting. Views of the political situation. Yoshihide Suga thanked the United States for lifting the ban on Japanese nuclear food earlier.
The issues of Afghanistan and the Taliban were also discussed at the meeting.
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