Quad ministers meet in Manila, call for rule-based Indo-Pacific: A ‘respect sovereignty’ message for China

The foreign ministers of the Quad countries — India, the United States, Japan and Australia — met in Manila on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The meeting came just a day after a fresh confrontation between Chinese and Philippine forces in the disputed South China Sea, giving added significance to the group's emphasis on respecting sovereignty.

The discussions were held on the sidelines of the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Philippine capital, where regional security and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific figured prominently.

While the Quad did not name China directly, its emphasis on a rules-based order and territorial integrity was widely seen as a message amid Beijing's growing maritime assertiveness.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the ministers reviewed the Indo-Pacific landscape and discussed recent developments in the region. He added that the meeting also followed up on the outcomes of the recent Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi.

Quad reaffirms commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific

Sharing details after the meeting, Jaishankar said the Quad remained committed to a "free and open Indo-Pacific" while recognising Asean's central role in the regional architecture.

"Reviewed the Indo-Pacific landscape and discussed recent developments. Followed up on the outcomes of the recent New Delhi meeting. Committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific with a recognition of ASEAN centrality," he said in a post on X.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the same message, saying strong cooperation among the Quad partners was essential to support Asean's priorities in the region.

Rubio said India, the United States, Japan and Australia shared a common vision of an Indo-Pacific "grounded in the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity." He added that the Quad remained a priority for Washington and confirmed that the four countries would meet again later this year.

South China Sea clash casts shadow over meeting

The Quad meeting took place against the backdrop of a fresh maritime confrontation between China and the Philippines near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday.

According to Philippine authorities, sailors from both sides clashed using oars and batons during the incident. Manila alleged that a Chinese Coast Guard officer struck a Filipino sailor on the head, leaving him injured.

China rejected the allegation and accused the Philippines of provoking the confrontation. Beijing claimed Philippine personnel approached Chinese vessels in small rubber boats and initiated the incident, calling Manila's version of events a distortion of facts.

Diplomatic tensions rise

The latest confrontation has further strained relations between Beijing and Manila. Both countries have summoned each other's ambassadors following the incident, while the clash has drawn concern from the United States and Australia, who asked China to respect the international law.