OUTCOME OF THE QUAD SUMMIT 2022
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or broadly known as 'QUAD' is a group made of four nations namely India, Japan, the USA, and Australia. It is a strategic forum featuring semi-regular summits. The key focus of the summit is the development of the Indo-Pacific region highlighting the threats of terrorism, disinformation, and territorial disputes. The Quad leaders' summit has been held on the 24th of May 2022 in Tokyo Japan broadly discussing issues like the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic development of the Indo-Pacific region and threats arising thereto.
INITIATIVES TAKEN
After the Summit the Quad leaders in Tokyo announced various initiatives in a joint statement:
1. Security and territorial integrity.
Without naming China, the Quad nations have made a strong statement opposing coercive and provocative actions such as the militarization of disputed features like moving forces to the Ladakh Border or creating artificial islands and military bases in the South China Sea. All territorial threats would be strongly countered. "We strongly oppose any coercive, provocative, or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo and increase tensions in the area, such as the militarization of disputed features, the dangerous use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia, and efforts to disrupt other countries' offshore resource exploitation activities," read the statement.
India and Japan are facing direct threats from an aggressive China which has the fastest expanding military in the world and the second-highest defence spending budget. In Ladakh, the PLA moved over 50,000 troops on the border unilaterally in April 2020 which still continues.
2. The Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness(IPMDA).
As a part of measures to increase cooperation in the region, a new maritime domain awareness initiative has been announced to combat illegal fishing and respond to humanitarian disasters.
The joint statement discussed at length the vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific noting threats imposed by China. "We will champion adherence to international law and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, to meet the challenges in the maritime rule-based order including the East and South China Seas.
3. Space Related Applications and Cyber Security Initiative.
The four nations have committed to sharing space-based earth observation data. It will include US programs on oceanic and atmospheric Monitoring, flood mapping, and land imaging.
4. Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief(HADR) Initiative.l 5. Infrastructure initiative.
The QUAD also launched a Common Statement of Principals on Critical Technology Supply Chains to mitigate risks in the region and advance cooperation in semiconductors and other critical technology. The participating nations have also agreed to expand cooperation in 5G Technology through the signing of a new MoU on Supplier Diversification.
Standards of Interoperability have been defined for ensuring open and secure telecommunications technologies in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the QUAD has assumed an important place in the world stage and described the format as Force for Good.
QUAD has to convene a business and investment forum for networking with the industry partners to expand capital for critical and emerging technology.
QUAD has to launch Q-CHAMP (Quad Climate Change Adoption and Mitigation Package) for clean energy, green shipping, and disaster mitigation.
On COVID-19 nations resolved to work together in preparing for new variants.
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