Modi and Johnson resolve to counter China together

Diplomats explore the possibility of an AUKUS-QUAD coordination to deal with Beijing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during bilateral talks on Friday elaborately discussed China’s assertiveness, stressing on the need to enhance joint cooperation to deal with the challenge posed by Beijing in the Indo-pacific region and also in other areas. Sources told The Sunday Guardian that the foreign ministers of India and the UK will meet soon to have a discussion on the issues related to the Indopacific in what will take the agenda set by the two Premiers further.

“There was a convergence of concerns about China’s assertiveness when the two leaders interacted on Friday. The Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control also figured during the bilateral consultations,” said a highly-placed source. “At the diplomatic exchanges, the possibility was also explored about how AUKUS could work as a supplement to Quad in an attempt to check China,” sources said. The AUKUS comprises Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. What is significant is that Australia and the US are also in the Quad with India and Japan. “With the formation of groups like these, both platforms can coordinate better,” says a diplomat.

Indian diplomats refer to the recent development that makes AUKUS a very important front vis-à-vis China. Just a few days back, with an eye on China, the AUKUS countries declared to commence “new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics, counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities”.

The joint statement referred to the free, open and rules-based Indo-pacific in what was a strong message to China. But Boris Johnson, after the talks with PM Modi, came out much harsher against Beijing when he said his country “always condemned actions of autocratic governments and breaches in territorial