New York: The foreign ministers of the Quad countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India expressed opposition Friday to unilateral attempts to change the status quo, apparently referring to China’s maritime ambitions.

The ministers, meeting in New York, underscored the importance of compliance with international law in the East China Sea and South China Sea and reaffirmed cooperation in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

In a joint statement, the ministers said they “condemn North Korea’s destabilizing launches using ballistic missile technology.”

The Quad ministers urged all U.N. member states to abide by U.N. Security Council resolutions banning arms procurement from North Korea, an apparent warning to Russia.

The meeting brought together Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Kamikawa sought understanding from her Quad counterparts of Japan’s release into the ocean of tritium-containing treated water from its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

After the Quad meeting, Kamikawa held three-way talks with Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and they reaffirmed cooperation to deal with North Korea. Kamikawa and Blinken also had a discussion with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

JIJI Press