The US and Australia have called for a “free, open, and prosperous rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region,” echoing the central theme that binds The Quad, an emerging four-nation compact with India and Japan focussed on managing and countering the rise of China. “We are committed to fostering an Indo-Pacific region where all countries abide by international law,” said the US-Australia joint statement after a meeting of their leaders Donald Trump and Malcom Turnbull at the White House on Friday. “A free, open, and prosperous rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region is in both our nations’ enduring national interests,” it said. There was speculation they could announce it, something officials had dismissed as not “ripe enough”, The Australian Financial Review reported. The first formal meeting of Quad officials took place in November on the sidelines of the ASEAN meet in Manila, Philippines.

Source: Hindustan Times February 24, 2018 17:37 UTC