In veiled message to China, Quad foreign ministers vow to oppose ‘actions that seek to change status quo by force or coercion’

“We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Washington D.C. to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended,” a readout by the US State Department said.

“Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains including the maritime domain underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” it added.

“We are committed to strengthening regional maritime, economic, and technology security in the face of increasing threats, as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains. We look forward to advancing the work of the Quad in the coming months and will meet together on a regular basis as we prepare for the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India,” it further said.

“Significant that the Quad (foreign ministers’ meeting) took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump Administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states,” Jaishankar said on X after the meeting.