Quad Raises East & South China Sea Concerns, China Responds Strongly

China's newly released 2023 edition of its standard map, which includes Taiwan and the South China Sea islands as part of its territory, has sparked protests from Taiwan, the Philippines, and other countries. (Photo reproduced from CNA/CNA graphic design)

[People News] On May 26, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar convened in New Delhi, India, to discuss the revival of the "Quad Security Dialogue" aimed at bolstering security strategies focused on the Indo-Pacific region.

Today (27th), Reuters reported that the four foreign ministers expressed serious concerns in a joint statement following their meeting about the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea, as well as the "militarisation" of disputed islands in the South China Sea: "We remain deeply concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We reiterate our firm opposition to any destabilising or unilateral actions, including the use of force or coercive means, as these actions threaten regional peace and stability."

Rubio announced a new "Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Initiative" designed to integrate the surveillance capabilities of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, while enhancing real-time intelligence sharing across the region. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also remarked that the "Quad Ports of the Future" partnership signifies the "Quad's" strongest commitment to the Pacific region in history.

The targets of the four foreign ministers' statements are quite evident; their unnamed warnings are directed at the "dangerous manoeuvres of military aircraft" concerning Taiwan, as well as the "collisions and obstruction actions occurring in the South China Sea." They conveyed their "deep concern about the militarisation of disputed areas." Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party asserts that it holds the majority of sovereignty over these regions.

During the "Quad Security Dialogue" meeting, the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of China reported that from 6 AM on the 25th to 6 AM on the 26th, 29 sorties of Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval vessels, and 1 government ship were detected continuously operating around the Taiwan Strait. Notably, 24 of these sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern airspace.

According to a report by Kyodo News, Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed a desire to discuss perspectives with the U.S. regarding responses to the Taiwan Strait issue and China's economic coercion. Japan places great importance on the U.S. maintaining its presence in the Indo-Pacific region to deter China and ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, Japan remains cautious about China's increasing closeness to the U.S., aiming to reaffirm Japan-U.S. unity at the foreign minister level. The report also indicated that Toshimitsu Motegi is preparing to advance Japan's diplomatic initiative of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP) and is seeking support from the U.S. In light of China's export control measures on rare earths and other critical materials, the stable supply of essential minerals may also become a topic of discussion.

China seems to be sensitive to the "Quad Security Dialogue" and has detected an underlying tension. Following the dialogue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China stated that any cooperation should not be directed against a third party.

On the 26th, spokesperson Mao Ning addressed related questions from a Bloomberg reporter during a regular press conference, expressing opposition to exclusive "small circles" and rejecting confrontational camps.

On the 27th, an AFP reporter asked further: "The four countries have expressed concerns regarding the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Has China made any protests to the relevant countries?" Mao Ning replied: "The countries involved should cease their interference in China's (the Communist Party of China's) maritime issues in the surrounding areas and truly respect the efforts of regional nations to maintain peace and stability. Creating small cliques, inflating tensions, and inciting confrontation do not resonate with the people's sentiments." △