At their first in-person summit, the US, Japan, India, and Australia leaders pledged to work together for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Members of the so-called Quad group of nations — the leaders of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia — reached an agreement on a joint plan to distribute Covid-19 vaccines throughout Asia.
They also announced a climate initiative to “decarbonise at pace” and “keep climate goals within reach”.
Annual summits will be held by the four countries.
During the White House summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India would resume exports of coronavirus vaccines next month.
“This is an immediate delivery from the Quad into the Indo-Pacific region,” Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters, vowing to supply “quality and affordable” vaccines.
The Quad group of nations affirmed in March to supply a billion doses of vaccine to Asia this year, but exports were halted in April due to a coronavirus outbreak.
The four leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open order based on international law.
Without explicitly mentioning China, the four leaders said they were committed to “promoting the free, open, rules-based order, rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, to bolster security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond”.
“We stand for the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, democratic values and territorial integrity of states,” they said in a joint statement.
According to Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Tomoyuki Yoshida, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga expressed concerns during the talks about Beijing’s assertiveness at sea, trampling on Hong Kong’s special status, and Chinese action toward Taiwan.
After the summit, the leaders pledged “to meet challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas”.
According to reporters, the summit was President Biden’s latest attempt to solidify US leadership in Asia in the face of growing Chinese economic, diplomatic, and military influence.
