ld) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Bide and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (AFP / STR) at the Quad Summit in Tokyo on May 24, 2022.
Leaders of the United States, Japan, Australia and India on Tuesday warned against “forcible reversal” of the situation in Tokyo, citing China’s activity in the Asia-Pacific region and growing military influence.
At the end of the summit in the Japanese capital, the four countries united in an informal alliance known as the “Quad”, which appeared to be a parallel between Beijing’s regional aspirations and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which “shook the fundamental principles of internationalism.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has warned at a news conference that “changing the status quo in the Asia-Pacific region will not be tolerated anywhere.”
Chinese and Russian bombers flew together near Japan on Tuesday, while a Russian spy plane flew north of the island of Hokkaido, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said after the summit.
“As the international community responds to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, China’s co-operation with Russia … is worrying. This cannot be underestimated.” , Mr. Kishi said.
Beijing confirmed the flights, which are part of the “Annual Military Cooperation Plan” between China and Russia.
U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States would be ready to use its military if China invaded Taiwan.
However, he clarified on Tuesday that the “strategic ambiguity” remains unchanged. This US policy is based on diplomatic recognition of only China’s mainland, while promising to provide military means to Taiwan to defend itself in the event of an invasion.
“I want to remind the US side that no power in the world, including the United States, can stop the Chinese people from achieving complete national unity,” said Wang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
He further added that if Washington continues on the wrong track, it will not only have “irreparable consequences on Sino-US relations, but also incur unbearable costs to the United States.”
– Ubiquitous China –
Quad members continue to worry about military maneuvers and Chinese attempts to “enter” around the Pacific islands.
Data on the “quad” alliance that unites the United States, India, Japan and Australia (AFP /)
In a statement issued by them on Tuesday, Mr. Biden and Kishida, along with Australia’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi of India, noted the “militarization” of particularly competing areas, “attempts to sabotage offshore vessels and maritime exploitation and other maritime exploitation activities”. Countries “, actions that China is accused of taking in the region.
They also released a maritime surveillance program aimed at “improving the stability and prosperity of our seas and oceans.”
Their statements, however, avoid explicitly mentioning China or Russia, while the Quad unity is complicated by differences with India, the only member who did not condemn the Russian occupation of Ukraine, despite criticisms that Russia increased oil imports.
But the summit was called “democracy against authoritarianism.” Biden had previously stressed.
He added that the US strategy was to make the Asia-Pacific region “free, open, connected, secure and resilient. Russia’s attack on Ukraine underscores the importance of these goals and only the basic tenets of the international order.”
– Asia-Pacific Investments –
Countries in the Pacific are also concerned about Beijing’s efforts to form alliances with smaller countries. After the conclusion of a security agreement with the Solomon Islands last month, according to some media, China may want to extend it to other countries in the region.
The Quad Summit in Tokyo on May 24, 2022 was attended by US President Joe Biden (2nd L), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (2nd D), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) (AFP / Saul) LOEB)
Beijing on Tuesday confirmed that its foreign minister would visit the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Pacific, including Kiribati, and exchange video with Micronesia and the Cook Islands.
Quattro members announced on Tuesday that they would like to invest at least $ 50 billion (approximately 47 47 billion) over the next five years in infrastructure projects in Asia-Pacific.
“We are committed to working closely with our partners and the region to stimulate public and private investment,” the four leaders said in a joint statement.
Joe Biden left for Washington on Tuesday, thus ending his Asian tour of staying in South Korea, where the unpredictable North Korea was likely to launch a new missile or test a nuclear weapon.
The fears have not yet materialized, but Washington says it is “ready” for the event, as talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then US President Donald Trump have stalled since the defeat in 2019.
“Web aficionado. Lifelong music lover. Pop culture guru. Professional tv expert. Wannabe beer scholar. Hipster-friendly coffee nerd.”