New Delhi/Beijing: As Quad countries today reaffirmed their commitment toward a free and open Indo-Pacific and specifically mentioned adherence to rules-based order in the South and East China Seas, Beijing hit out against “exclusionary blocs”.
The Quad Foreign Ministers of India, Australia, Japan and the US – S Jaishankar, Penny Wong, Yoshimasa Hayashi and Antony Blinken – met in the India capital and issued a joint statement reaffirming that the grouping is a force for regional and global good and its commitment toward an inclusive, resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific.
Asked about the Quad meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing: “China has stated our position on QUAD on multiple occasions. We believe that state-to-state cooperation needs to be consistent with the trend of peace and development, rather than be about putting up exclusionary blocs.
“We hope certain countries can do more things that contribute to security and mutual trust between regional countries and that help to maintain regional peace and stability,” she said.
The Quad joint statement issued after the meeting “reiterated the importance of adherence to international maritime law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South and East China Seas” – in an allusion to China and its hegemonistic policies in the South China Sea.
“We strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo or increase tensions in the area. We express serious concern at the militarization of disputed features, the dangerous use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia, and efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities,” it said, in direct reference to Beijing’s activities in the South and East China Seas that has led to tensions with its maritime neighbours.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which is the route through which huge amounts of trade – around $5 trillion – passes annually.
Beijing has also built military bases in the waters, which has led to tension with its maritime neighbours who have territorial claims in the waters.
