Quad Leaders Agree That Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Should Not Happen In The Indo-Pacific

JAKARTA - Leaders of the Quad group of countries, the United States, India, Australia, and Japan, agreed on Thursday that what is happening in Ukraine must not be allowed to happen in the Indo-Pacific, the Prime Ministers of Japan and Australia said.

The virtual four-nation grouping meeting comes at a time of growing concern about Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China that has raised its alert level since Russia invaded Ukraine, wary of Beijing taking advantage of a distracted West to move against it.

"We have agreed that unilateral changes to the status quo by force like this should not be allowed in the Indo-Pacific region", Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, referring to the Russian invasion.

"We have also agreed that this development makes it even more important to work towards a free and open Indo-Pacific", Kishida told reporters after meeting US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We cannot allow what is happening in Ukraine now to happen in the Indo-Pacific", Morrison said in a statement after the meeting.

"We are firm in our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region where small countries need not live in fear of a stronger nation", he added.

A joint Quad statement said the leaders met to "reaffirm their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations are respected and nations are free from military, economic and political coercion."

The leaders, whose summons followed their foreign ministers meeting in Australia last month, also "reaffirmed their dedication to the Quad as a mechanism to promote regional stability and prosperity."

The statement, which added the leaders agreed to meet in person in Tokyo "in the coming months", did not mention any specifics about Taiwan, but said the leaders discussed the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.