Leaders of “the Quad” Indo-Pacific strategic partnership agreed Tuesday on the need to “uphold the international principles of rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity throughout the world” in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, although they did not explicitly name Moscow in their joint statement.
The grouping, comprising Japan, the United States, Australia and India, expressed their opposition to “any unilateral attempt to change the status quo” alongside “all forms of military, economic and political coercion.”
Specific mention of China was conspicuous by its absence, although the joint statement did reference the need to combat “challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China seas.”