Leaders stress cooperation at in-person Quad summit

WASHINGTON — The leaders of Japan, Australia, India and the United States held the first in-person Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summit in Washington on Sept. 24, during which they agreed to work together in areas such as infrastructure development and space to realize a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

According to a joint statement released after the summit, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed that the four nations would hold summit talks every year under the Quad framework.

At Sept. 24’s meeting, which lasted about two hours and 20 minutes, Suga stressed the importance of the framework. “The Quad is an extremely significant initiative to realize a free and open international order in the Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law,” Suga said.

Biden also stressed the significance of the “group meeting of democratic partners who share a world view and have a common vision for the future, coming together to take on key challenges of our age.”

Morrison said, “I’m in no doubt that together our four nations multiply many times over the forces of hope for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” while Modi said the Quad “will play the role of a force for global good.”

In the joint statement, the Quad leaders reaffirmed support for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, and territorial integrity of states. While avoiding naming names, they also warned against China’s maritime expansion.

The statement also included plans for the four countries to cooperate in infrastructure development, cybersecurity and space with a focus on sharing satellite data.

The statement referred to joint efforts in the deployment of secure fifth-generation (5G) communications standards and the monitoring of biotechnology.

Regarding Afghanistan, the four leaders called on the Taliban to secure the safety of people wishing to leave the country.

According to a senior Japanese government official, Suga expressed serious concern about attempts to change the status quo by coercion in the South and East China seas.

Regarding North Korean missile launches, he strongly condemned the acts as a “clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.” The four leaders confirmed their commitment to realizing the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

The four-way alliance, which was initially proposed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, held its first foreign ministers’ meeting in September 2019.

The Biden administration, which was inaugurated in January this year, has placed the Quad as the core of its Indo-Pacific strategy. The group held its first online summit in March.

“The Japan-initiated alliance with the United States, Australia and India has been launched fully,” Suga told reporters after the summit on Sept. 24. “The meeting was very meaningful for the further development of the partnership.” (Sept. 26)

BIDEN THANKS SUGA

The Yomiuri Shimbun

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude for the work done by outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, saying he hopes to seek advice from the Japanese leader after he steps down.

First lady Jill Biden accompanied her husband when the two leaders spoke for about 10 minutes at the White House on Sept. 24.

The U.S. president said he would miss his Japanese counterpart. “The importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance will not change in the future,” Suga replied.

At the Quad summit meeting, Suga expressed his gratitude for the U.S. decision to lift its ban on Japanese food imports, saying it was a “major step in supporting the reconstruction of areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.” (Sept. 26)