2/ This includes the stmts at the Quad ministerial of US SecState Pompeo, Australian FM Payne, & Indian EAM Jaishankar (below is a thread by him on his remarks, which again departs from the official GoI docs that don't use "Quad" state.gov/secretary-mich…
5/ Awaiting the Japanese readout of the ministerial but they have released a statement on the meeting of the Quad ministers w/ new Japanese PM Suga: mofa.go.jp/fp/nsp/page4e_…
6/ Even if each of the ministers hadn't mentioned that things were so different when they met a year ago, these pre- and in-COVIDtimes photos would demonstrate that...
🧵 1/ I know some of you really wanted a joint statement from the Quad ministerial, so you can create your own from the readouts, which give you a sense of what the countries covered (read them for more specifics too). This can get you started:
2/ What Australia, India, Japan & the US outlined as their visions for the Indo-Pacific
3/ Some of you were also really sad that most of the Quad didn't mention China, but, as always, read between the lines in what they said publicly.
And if you think they met in person in the middle of COVID19 & didn't talk about China privately, well, bless your heart
🧵 1/ Fascinating chain of events. Taiwan rep. office in India places an ad in 2 Indian newspapers (Indian Express, Statesman) & a program on a news channel. Over the last few months there hv also been op-eds by no. of Taiwanese officials (incl FM Wu) in Indian newspapers
2/ Chinese emb. in India (routinely places ads & objects to Taiwanese op-eds) sends Indian media a letter telling them to "stick to" official 🇮🇳 position on Taiwan, what they can/cannot call Taiwan & Tsai Ing-wen & not to send wrong signals to the public
🧵 Looking for a primer on the 🇦🇺🇮🇳🇯🇵🇺🇸 Quad as the foreign ministers meet in Tokyo for their second meeting? I've got you covered: brook.gs/3jzZB52 1/
2/ The previous iteration of the Quad (2007) was short-lived. More details why: bit.ly/34v2ptF
3/ The current iteration of the Quad began in November 2017 with assistant secretary/joint secretary-level consultations on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Manila. Since then, it's met regularly & been upgraded.
1/ Japanese ForMin Motegi says Tokyo will host the 2nd #Quad ministerial mtg on Oct 6; will hv bilats w/ his Australian, Indian, US counterparts. Hopes for "further deepening the collaboration among us & many more countries to realize the [FOIP] vision"
2/ Japanese Foreign Minister on the upcoming #Quad ministerial says the 4 nations "have the same aim on issues, which became prominent from the occurrence and expansion of COVID-19 & responses to regional situations" 🇦🇺🇮🇳🇯🇵🇺🇸
3/ India on Ext. Affairs Min. @DrSJaishankar's visit to Japan next wk for bilats w/ 🇦🇺🇯🇵🇺🇸 counterparts.
Also, 2nd Quad ministerial; agenda:
- post-Covid 19 int'l order, need for coordinated reax
- regional issues
- collectively affirm imp. of free, open & inclusive Indo-Pacific
🧵 1/ A Chinese stmt claims Indian external affairs minister said Indian policy twd China has not changed. This might be wishful thinking or hope on Beijing's part.
While India's app ban has got a lot of attention, this thread lists the no. of other steps 🇮🇳 has taken or floated
2/ These Indian policies stem from concerns that COVID19 & the boundary crisis hv intensified re:
- economic overdependence on/exposure to China
- inroads that Chinese companies have made into certain sensitive sectors
- China’s avenues of influence in India
3/ The announced & reported policy measures (if not reversed) will have the effect of restricting & scrutinize Chinese activities in a no. of Indian sectors
- economic
- technology
- telecommunications
- public diplomacy
- education
- civil society
1/ More on the issue/interest-based coalition front
After indication Australia-India-Indonesia trilat wld be upgraded to a ministerial, news of a Australia-India-France trilateral at the foreign secretary-level (trilat had met at 1.5 level in 2018)
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