China Accuses Quad of Stirring Tensions in Asia-Pacific

China has accused the Quad nations, including the US and India, of creating tension and inciting confrontation to contain the development of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This statement follows a Quad meeting in Tokyo, where commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific were declared, implicitly criticizing China's actions.

China on Monday accused the Quad nations, including the US and India, of 'artificially creating tension' and 'inciting confrontation' to 'contain' the development of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Beijing's statement came hours after the foreign ministers of the Quad countries—comprising the US, Japan, India, and Australia—reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific during a meeting in Tokyo. They vowed to work towards a region where no country dominates others and each state is free from coercion in all its forms.

The Quad was 'artificially creating tension, inciting confrontation and containing the development of other countries,' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing. This statement was in reaction to the joint statement of the Quad foreign ministers released after their meeting.

According to Lin, this approach goes against the global trend of peace, development, and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a clear message to China, the Quad foreign ministers called for upholding a free and open rules-based international order and respecting the principles of freedom, human rights, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of nations.

The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Australia’s Penny Wong. Without directly naming China, the ministers expressed serious concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated the Quad's opposition to any 'unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.'

Lin stated that China believes cooperation among countries should lead to regional development, stability, and prosperity, rather than forming small groups that harm mutual trust and cooperation.

China firmly opposes certain countries using coercion to create confrontation, Lin added.

'They claim to protect their interests but impose their laws on others,' Lin criticized, urging Quad countries to maintain stability instead of stirring up conflicts.