In all cases, White House officials have stated, the Quad will defend an open and free Indo-Pacific area; there is no softening of its objectives.
This was said by Josh Rubin, the White House’s National Security Council Director for Indo-Pacific Affairs, in response to an inquiry from IANS.
The thorough question posed was: Some people think the Quad hasn’t grown as strong as they would like, prioritising soft matters over serious problems in the South China Sea. Any feedback on this? And has Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and the predominance of European continental security diminished attention to the Indo-Pacific region as a result?
Furthermore, doesn’t it help China by giving the green light to new acts of aggression in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea?
Rubin retorted that the Quad is striving to fulfil the partners’ priorities in the areas they have designated. Throughout the Indo-Pacific region, numerous partners prioritise maritime security.
“For this reason, the Quad is taking action to guarantee that nations in the area are better equipped to see what is going on within their exclusive economic zones. So we will continue to do that in partnership with countries across the region because it is at their request and in partnership with them on issues across the region that are, obviously, of concern, including in the South China Sea, East China Sea and elsewhere,” said the National Security Council Director.
According to him, the wording used in this year’s statement by the Quad Joint Leaders was the harshest yet on concerns pertaining to the South China Sea in particular and the growing provocations coming from North Korea.
“So I think you can continue to expect, that when and that the Quad will stand up for a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” he stated.
He reiterated that “when actions are taken that undermine a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the Quad will continue, to speak out on those.”
In response to a query from IANS, Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, stated, “The conflict in Ukraine does not lessen our focus on the Indo-Pacific. I believe it’s evident from the sheer volume of meetings held at the level of leaders and foreign ministers that we continue to be committed to this region.”
Jackson went on to state that efforts to “really promote an open, safe, and prosperous Indo-Pacific” remained unwaveringly focused.
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