Quad Nations Unite to Bolster Maritime Security and Cyber Defences in Tokyo Talks

Foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States discussed initiatives to enhance maritime security and cyber defenses during a meeting in Tokyo. The discussions followed U.S.-Japan security talks focused on addressing threats from China. The meetings aimed to strengthen regional stability and ensure freedom of navigation.

Foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States - collectively known as the 'Quad' - converged in Tokyo on Monday to discuss strategies for enhancing maritime security and cybersecurity defenses. These crucial talks, attended by notable officials such as Australia's Penny Wong, India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Yoko Kamikawa, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, follow a significant security dialogue between Tokyo and Washington. During these talks, China was identified as the primary strategic challenge to regional stability.

'We are charting a course for a more secure and open Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region by bolstering maritime security and domain awareness,' Blinken said in his remarks. 'It means strengthening the capacity of partners across the region to know what's happening in their own waters.'

Blinken emphasized the United States' commitment to working with its allies to maintain freedom of navigation and ensure the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce. As part of these efforts, the U.S. announced plans for a substantial revamp of its military command in Japan to enhance coordination between allied forces.

The ministers addressed an 'evolving security environment' marked by China's assertive activities in the East and South China Seas and ongoing regional threats. Japan's Yoko Kamikawa reiterated the importance of bolstering cybersecurity capabilities and providing maritime security training to maintain prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Following the Tokyo talks, Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will engage in further security discussions with the Philippines, another key Asian ally, as part of broader efforts to counter an increasingly assertive China.

Blinken also engaged with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Laos, reaffirming that the U.S. and its partners are committed to maintaining a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' during these pivotal times.

(With inputs from agencies.)