rime Minister Narendra Modi are going to be a part of the first-ever in-person Quad summit hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 24. Other invitees include Modi’s Australian counterpart Scott Morrison and Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga.
During last summit of the “Quad” group of countries , which was held virtually in March, the whole world was grappling under the Coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 vaccines, China’s aggression were a number of the pressing issues for the four countries during that point .
However, this year, though the problems remain similar, it’ll be the the first-ever in-person meeting. The White House said that the four leaders would discuss deepening their ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas like combatting Covid-19 and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. The four countries will likely exchange views on contemporary global issues like critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, etc
CHINA
The last Quad summit happened because the China and India are involved during a military standoff along the road of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since May last year. After lengthy rounds of talks, the 2 sides simultaneously withdrew troops from the Pangong Lake area last month while talks are on for the withdrawal of soldiers from the remainder of the friction points along the LAC.
“This is our effort to speak clearly to the Chinese government how the us intends to proceed at a strategic level, what we believe our fundamental interests and values are, and what our concerns with their activities are whether it’s on Hong Kong , or Xinjiang, or within the Taiwan Strait or, frankly, the problems that we heard today from our Quad partners: their coercion of Australia, their harassment round the Senkaku Islands, their aggression on the border with India,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had said.
In a joint statement, the Quad leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation on the “defining challenges of our time. We bring diverse perspectives and are united during a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. we attempt for a neighborhood that’s free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, said the joint statement titled The Spirit of the Quad.”
WHAT PM MODI SAID?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the primary ever leadership summit of the grouping said that members of the Quadrilateral Framework or ‘Quad’ will become “closer than ever before”.
Describing Quad as a crucial pillar of stability within the region, PM said, “We are united by our democratic values and our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Our agenda, covering areas like vaccines, global climate change , and emerging technologies make the Quad a force for global good. we’ll work together, closer than ever before on advancing our shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
We will work together, closer than ever before, for advancing our shared values and promoting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Today’s summit shows that Quad has come aged . it’ll now remain a crucial pillar of stability within the region,” he had added.
COVID-19 VACCINE
The last summit had come at a time when the countries across the planet were grappling under Covid-19 and therefore the inoculation had just started across countries including India. The member nations agreed to make sure “equitable” access to vaccines to counter the pandemic.
PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Premier Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison highlighted cooperation among the member countries to beat the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, with joint partnership on vaccines, and emphasised the necessity for an “open” and “free” Indo-Pacific region, a report within the Hindu said.
A joint statement of the four countries also said, “We will collaborate to expand safe, affordable, and effective vaccine production and equitable access to hurry economic recovery and benefit global health.”
.WHAT TO EXPECT THIS YEAR?
This time, the Quad Leaders are going to be focused on deepening their ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas like combatting COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Quad summit will happen amidst China’s aggressive behaviour within the resource-rich South China Sea. Beijing claims most of the 1.3 million area unit South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands within the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
