Without directly referring to Beijing’s aggressive posturing, the four Quad nations on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They called for adherence to international law to ensure safety and the uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea in the backdrop of the global energy crisis.
The foreign ministers of India, Japan, Australia and the United States held a crucial meeting here amid conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and strains on global supply chains. They issued a joint statement, calling for decisive and sustained international efforts to combat terrorism in accordance with international law, including action against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities and their proxies, affiliates, sponsors and financiers.
The Quad members unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism and the horrific terrorist attacks perpetrated at Pahalgam in India on 22 April 2025, and Bondi Beach in Australia on 14 December 2025.
The meeting, hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, was attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We affirm our support for a free and open Indo-Pacific that allows countries to develop resilience and strengthen capacity to determine their own paths. To that end, we concur on further enhancing cooperation and advancing concrete initiatives to deliver tangible benefits to the region,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
The Quad nations noted that developments in key maritime regions have underscored the vulnerability of critical sea lanes and the risks posed to the uninterrupted flow of commerce.
“These challenges carry significant implications for the Indo-Pacific, which remains central to global trade and connectivity. Disruptions to maritime transport and supply chains have far-reaching consequences for global fuel, food and fertiliser security as well as the safety of seafarers,” the ministers said in the statement.
The ministers discussed the situation in West Asia and reaffirmed their support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and hope for lasting peace in the region.
“We reiterate the importance of adhering to international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to navigational rights and freedoms, and the safety and uninterrupted flow of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea,” the ministers said.
They condemned the attacks on commercial shipping vessels and opposed any future measures inconsistent with UNCLOS, including the imposition of tolls.
“We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilising or unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region,” they said.
“We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and coercive actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of freedom of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and flares, and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea,” they said.
“We are seriously concerned by the militarisation of disputed features,” the ministers said.
In his media statement at the end of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the four Quad nations are also market economies and strongly believe that economic resilience should be promoted, that supply chains should be strengthened, trusted and secure technologies diffused and production capacities enhanced.
“Our deliberations touched on the current energy and fertiliser availability as well as that of critical minerals and resources. The goal is to intensify cooperation amongst ourselves, while also assisting others,” he said.
“As democratic nations, we also devoted attention to countering the common threat of terrorism. There must be zero tolerance for terrorism and nations subject to terrorist attacks have the right to defend themselves,” the External Affairs Minister stated.