Rubio joins ‘Quad’ meeting as group condemns force, coercion in Indo-Pacific

Metro Manila, Philippines – Foreign ministers from the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, collectively known as the “Quad,” gathered in Washington, D.C. to address key issues affecting the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting was the first for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his Senate confirmation on Jan. 20.

“We, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Washington D.C. to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended,” the group stated.

The ministers said the rule of law must always be prioritized in the region and highlighted the importance of international law for regional stability.

“Our four nations maintain our conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains – including the maritime domain – underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific,” the Quad said.

The four officials also expressed their stand against unilateral efforts aimed at altering the regional status quo through force or coercion.

“We also strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion,” they said

The Quad ministers further pledged to enhance cooperation in technology security to address emerging threats in the region. Looking ahead, they confirmed that the next Quad Leaders’ Summit will take place in India.

Rubio to China: Stop provoking the Philippines and Taiwan

Rubio also delivered strong remarks on China’s escalating actions toward both the Philippines and Taiwan, urging Beijing to “stop messing around.”

His statement echoed the Trump administration’s hardline stance on the Indo-Pacific region.

“If the Chinese are in fact serious about stabilizing US-China relations and finding ways in which we can cooperate and avoid conflict, then they will not do anything rash or irrational when it comes to Taiwan or the Philippines,” Rubio said during his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 15.

He reaffirmed America’s unwavering commitments to Manila and Taipei, stressing that these commitments are “non-negotiable.”

Rubio further called on China to cease its provocative actions in the region.

“They really need to stop messing around with Taiwan and with the Philippines because it’s forcing us to focus our attention in ways we prefer not to have to,” he said.