TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio at a Quad summit in Tokyo on Tuesday repeated his condemnation of Russia for its continuing invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian action is “a head-on challenge” to the principles written in the UN Charter, Kishida, the host of the closely watched four-way summit, said. Apparently bearing the rise of China in mind, he said that a similar thing must never be allowed to happen in the Indo-Pacific region.

The fourth Quad summit, held at the prime minister’s office, was also joined by US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who took office on Monday following his Labor Party’s victory in Saturday’s general election in the Oceanian country.

The four leaders are believed to have affirmed their countries’ cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. Kishida is slated to announce a joint statement from the Quad leaders at a press conference later on Tuesday.

At the meeting, the Japanese leader said that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is shaking the very foundation of the international order. “Under the difficult circumstances, it is extremely significant that we gather here and show to the international community our steadfast commitment to our shared vision of (realizing) a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Kishida said.

Biden said that the world is in a dark time in history, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin is obliterating Ukrainian culture and that the international community needs to work in unity to block the move.

Territorial integrity, sovereignty, international law and human rights must be always protected anywhere in the world, he also said, touching on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Albanese, who attended the Quad summit for the first time, said that Australia’s commitment to the Quad framework will not change although a change of government took place in the country.

Modi said that cooperation at the Quad framework will contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The four Quad countries held the first meeting of their foreign ministers in September 2019.

Leaders of Japan, the United States, India and Australia held talks online in March 2021 and March this year, and in person in September 2021.

JIJI Press