Quad reaffirms Indo-Pacific commitment; slams China’s actions, North Korea’s missile & cyber threats –

The Quad Foreign Ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and opposed any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. The member nations expressed serious concern about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. In a joint statement, they underscored their commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The statement expressed concern regarding dangerous and provocative actions, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea. The member nations stated that such actions threaten peace and stability in the region. They emphasised the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They called for the maritime disputes to be resolved peacefully and per international law. They reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.
 
The statement also condemned North Korea’s destabilising launches using ballistic missile technology and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The statement expressed grave concern over North Korea’s malicious cyber activity, including cryptocurrency theft and the use of workers abroad to fund North Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. It urged all UN Member States to abide by their international obligations under the UNSCRs to implement sanctions, including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related material.