Quad Foreign Ministers to Meet in Tokyo Amid Rising China Tensions

TOKYO – The foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)—an informal strategic forum consisting of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—are set to convene in Tokyo on October 6 for a highly anticipated meeting. The primary goal of this gathering is to strengthen strategic cooperation and advance their shared vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

This ministerial meeting comes at a critical time, as each of the four member nations has experienced a significant downturn in its relationship with Beijing. This shift has been driven by China's increasingly aggressive posture, particularly since the onset of the global pandemic.

Agenda to Focus on Broad Strategic Cooperation

According to officials, the ministers will discuss a range of collaborative efforts, including counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security, development finance, and humanitarian aid. A key point of discussion will be practical cooperation in developing advanced technologies such as 5G and 5G-plus telecom standards, as well as safeguarding critical sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific.

This meeting is expected to signal a move towards a more institutionalized dialogue for the Quad, marking a significant evolution from their informal discussions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in 2019.

Shared Concerns Over China's Actions

The meeting’s timing is particularly notable given the recent policy shifts among Quad members:

1. United States: The Trump administration has moved away from the decades-old policy of rapprochement with China, adopting a much tougher stance. This new approach was officially defined by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
2. India: Relations between India and China have soured dramatically since China's military aggression in eastern Ladakh in May. Troops from both nations remain locked in a standoff, following border clashes that resulted in casualties and heightened tensions.
3. Australia: Despite being its largest trading partner, Australia's relationship with China has plummeted. Beijing has imposed steep tariffs on Australian goods, blocked imports, and detained an Australian journalist, leading to a breakdown in diplomatic ties.
4. Japan: Japan is also facing increasing pressure, with China's military posturing over the Senkaku Islands prompting Tokyo to raise its defense budget to a record high. Japan also has concerns about new security laws in Hong Kong and pressure on Taiwan.

These individual grievances, all stemming from China's assertive actions under leader Xi Jinping, are expected to be a central topic of discussion.

Naval Exercises to Signal Commitment

In a powerful display of their commitment to a free Indo-Pacific, the foreign ministers are expected to greenlight a four-nation naval exercise under the Malabar banner in the Arabian Sea. Given that all four Quad partners have military supply and logistics sharing agreements, this exercise will serve as a clear signal of their unified resolve for free and open navigation in the region.