September 22 () –
The heads of state and government of Australia, India, Japan and the United States, leaders of the regional group of QUAD nations, have reaffirmed this Saturday their commitment to the Indo-Pacific, announcing that their coast guards will carry out joint maneuvers in this region starting in 2025.
“Today we are announcing that the United States Coast Guard, the Japanese Coast Guard, the Australian Border Force and the Indian Coast Guard plan to launch the first-ever Quadruple Ship-at-Sea Monitoring Mission in 2025,” the leaders of the four countries said.
In a joint statement, the leaders defended this measure, which seeks to “improve interoperability and advance maritime security and continue with other missions in the coming years throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
These maneuvers will take place in a context of “deep concern about the militarization of disputed areas and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea.”
Beijing claims most of the waters in the area, considering them part of its territory as they appear within the so-called “nine-dash line” that appears on maps of the Asian giant — a line drawn by the Chinese government that claims the South China Sea, including the Paracel and Spratly islands.
“We stress the importance of adherence to international law, in particular as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in addressing challenges to the rules-based global maritime order, including with respect to maritime claims,” the QUAD leaders said, condemning “the dangerous use of coast guard vessels and maritime militias.”
The note also mentions a new Maritime Indo-Pacific Regional Training Initiative (MAITRI), which will allow partners in the region to “take full advantage of the tools provided by QUAD to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter illicit behavior.”
These announcements were made following a summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which brought together Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden.
In this context, the four leaders have reaffirmed their “firm commitment to a free and open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific” and their support for the “sustainable development, stability and prosperity” of the region and its populations.
“We firmly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo by force or coercion. We condemn the recent illegal missile launches in the region, which violate United Nations Security Council resolutions,” they said, referring to the actions of Xi Jinping’s government in the area.
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