Can’t use coercion, terror: Quad snubs China, Pakistan

Ajay Banerjee

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New Delhi, July 29

Sending a clear message to China, the Quad today asked it to adhere to the rule of law in international waters and desist from taking unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. Separately, the four-nation grouping sought action against terror groups based in Pakistan.

Take action against terror groups

We reiterate the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Daesh, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and their proxies. The Quad

In a joint statement, the Quad Foreign Ministers of India, US, Japan and Australia, said, “We condemn terrorism and violent extremism and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.”

It went on reiterate its “condemnation of terrorist attacks, including the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks and call for bringing the perpetrators to justice without delay”. Both attacks were carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists.

Without naming Pakistan, the Quad asked all countries “to take immediate, sustained and irreversible action to prevent territory under their control from being used for terrorist purposes”.

It added: “We reiterate the call for concerted action against all UN-listed terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida, ISIS, Daesh, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and their proxy groups.”

The first meeting of the Quad Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was conducted last year.

The Quad, which collectively has a GDP of $35 trillion, without naming China emphasised the importance of adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order, including claims in the East and South China Seas.

“We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” the statement said, targeting China that has made such claims.

The Quad said there was a “serious concern about the militarisation of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea”.

The statement also expressed “deepest concern” over the raging was in Ukraine. “We reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

On the Israel-Palestine issue, the Quad statement condemned terror attacks on Israel in October last year. It also said, “the large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, in a message to those doubting India’s diplomatic options, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said the Quad grouping was “not a talk shop”, but a platform that generates “practical outcomes”.

Speaking at the Quad meet in Tokyo, Jaishankar said, “Our meeting should send a clear message, that the Quad is here to stay, here to do and here to go.”