Diplomacy: Quad for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, terror-free Afghanistan

Virendra Pandit 

New Delhi: Leaders of the four democracies comprising the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)—the US, India, Japan, and Australia—on Friday vowed to ensure a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, which is also “inclusive and resilient” at a time when China’s assertiveness is growing in the simmering region.

At a US President Joe Biden-hosted Summit in the White House, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his counterparts Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan, after their first in-person meeting, described it as an opportunity to refocus themselves and the world on the Indo-Pacific and on the vision for what they hope to achieve.

“Together, we recommit to promoting the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond,” the Quad leaders said in a joint statement.

“We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and over-flight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values, and territorial integrity of states. We commit to working together and with a range of partners.”

They reaffirmed their strong support for the ASEAN’s unity and centrality and for its outlook on the Indo-Pacific. “We underscore our dedication towards working with ASEAN and its member states — the heart of the Indo-Pacific region — in practical and inclusive ways. We also welcome the September 2021 EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” they said.

“On this historic occasion, we recommit to our partnership and to a region that is a bedrock of our shared security and prosperity — a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is also inclusive and resilient,” they said.

The four countries also denounced the use of “terrorist proxies” in South Asia, in a veiled reference to Pakistan, as they emphasized the importance of denying any support to terrorist groups which could be used to launch or plan terror attacks, including cross-border attacks.

“We denounce the use of terrorist proxies and emphasized the importance of denying any logistical, financial or military support to terrorist groups which could be used to launch or plan terror attacks, including cross-border attacks,” the joint statement said.

It said they will closely coordinate their diplomatic, economic, and human rights policies towards Afghanistan and deepen their counter-terrorism and humanitarian cooperation in South Asia.

The Quad leaders reaffirmed that the Afghan territory should not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists or to plan or to finance terrorist acts. They also reiterated the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan.

“We stand together in support of Afghan nationals and call on the Taliban to provide safe passage to any person wishing to leave Afghanistan and to ensure that the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and minorities are respected,” they said.

About the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccination, they said with the Quad Vaccine Partnership’s financing of increased manufacturing capacity at the Hyderabad-based Biological E LTD, additional production in India will come on line later this year.

“In line with our March announcement, and recognizing the continuing global supply gap, we will ensure this expanded manufacturing is exported for the Indo-Pacific and the world and we will coordinate with key multilateral initiatives, such as the COVAX facility, to procure proven safe, effective and quality-assured Covid-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.

“We also recognize the importance of open and secure supply chains for vaccine production,” they said.

The Quad leaders said they have accomplished much to date despite months of pandemic hardship throughout the region and world. They welcomed Biological E Ltd’s production, including through the Quad investments, of at least one billion safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.

“Today, we are proud to announce an initial step towards that supply that will immediately help the Indo-Pacific and the world to end the pandemic. The Quad also welcomes India’s announcement to resume exports of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines, including to COVAX, beginning in October 2021,” they said.

In the first Quad leaders’ summit held virtually in March, they had decided to form the Quad Vaccine Initiative, a vaccine supply chain to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines for India, the US, Japan, and Australia. Biological E Ltd was chosen for this role of producing a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

The Quad leaders said Japan will continue to help regional partners purchase vaccines through USD 3.3 billion of Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan. Australia will deliver USD 212 million in grant aid to purchase vaccines for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In addition, Australia will allocate USD 219 million to support last-mile vaccine roll-out and lead in coordinating the Quad’s last-mile delivery efforts in those regions.

Recognizing that their shared futures lay in the Indo-Pacific, the Quad leaders said they will redouble their efforts to ensure that the grouping is a force for regional peace, stability, security, and prosperity.

“Towards that end, we will continue to champion adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China seas.”

“We affirm our support to small island states, especially those in the Pacific, to enhance their economic and environmental resilience. We will continue our assistance with Pacific Island countries on responses to the health and economic impacts of Covid-19 and on quality, sustainable infrastructure, as well as partners to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, which poses especially serious challenges for the Pacific,” they said.