NEW DELHI: The US, Japan, Australia, and India are working to hold the first meeting of their leaders under the so-called Quad framework amid China’s rising clout in the Indo-Pacific region, a news report said Sunday. It said the US had already proposed to other countries the idea of holding an online meeting of the Quad leaders. A ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ strategy has been a linchpin of US foreign policy. During the proposed Quad meeting, participants are expected to discuss cooperation for the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific" amid China’s maritime assertiveness in the region, the Japan Times report said. There was a meeting in 2017 in the Philippines, when officials of the four countries sat down for talks.

Source: Mint February 07, 2021 09:56 UTC