'Dangerous': QUAD Leaders Voice Concern Over 'Intimidating Maneuvers' in South China Sea

Wilmington: Following the fourth in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in Wilmington, the top four world leaders, incluidng Prime Minister Narendra Modi , US President Joe Biden , Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida have expressed serious concern about the militarization of disputed features and coercive & intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea. 

In a joint statement, the Quad leaders also condemned the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers.

The leaders emphasised the importance of adherence to international law in contributing towards sustainable development, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.

“As Leaders, we are steadfast in our conviction that international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the maintenance of peace, safety, security and stability in the maritime domain, underpin the sustainable development, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We emphasize the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order, including with respect to maritime claims,” the Quad Wilmington Declaration said.

 We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea," the Declaration further read.

‘Maritime Disputes Must Be Resolved Peacefully’

They also called for carrying out activities in the oceans and the seas in accordance with the legal framework set up by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also opposed efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities and reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully.

“We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers. We also oppose efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities. We reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. We re-emphasize the importance of maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law,” the statement further read.

"We re-emphasize the universal and unified character of UNCLOS and reaffirm that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and the seas must be carried out. We underscore that the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties," the statement further read.

The Quad leaders added that they recommit to working in partnership with Pacific island countries to achieve shared aspirations and address shared challenges. They also extended support to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as the Indian Ocean region's premier forum for addressing the region's challenges.

"We remain committed to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. We strongly support the IORA as the Indian Ocean region's premier forum for addressing the region's challenges. We recognize India's leadership in finalizing the IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (IOIP) and express our support for its implementation. We thank Sri Lanka for its continued leadership as IORA Chair through this year and look forward to India's assuming the IORA Chair in 2025," the declaration said.

Quad Announces Ship Observer Mission 

They also announced the launch of first-ever 'Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission' in 2025, which they said will improve interoperability and advance maritime safety between the Indian Coast Guard and its US, Japan, and Australian counterparts.

"We are also announcing today that the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard, plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, and continuing with further missions in future years across the Indo-Pacific," the declaration read. 

The Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting joint statement issued on July 29 this year said that the countries of the bloc were collectively advancing a positive and practical agenda to support the Indo-Pacific region's sustainable development, stability, and prosperity, responding to the region's needs.

Amid China's coercive pressure on Taiwan in the wake of the Lai Ching-te winning the presidential polls of the self-governed island and following tensions between China and the Philippines, the Quad foreign ministers had previously said they were "seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas" and reiterated their "strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion."

As President Joe Biden hosted the Quad Summit on Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, he also rolled out a series of new initiatives to deliver a real positive impact for the Indo-Pacific, including providing new maritime technologies to Quad partners.

The sixth edition of the Quad Leaders' Summit was a farewell summit for the Japanese prime minister as he nears the end of his term in office on October 1. This was Biden's farewell summit as well as his term as the US President will end on January 20, 2025.

Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries--Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. US President Joe Biden is the host of the fourth in-person and sixth overall Quad Leaders' Summit in Delaware.