In a joint statement that did not name the Chinese government by name, the leaders condemned “coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea.” “We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas,” they said in a Wilmington declaration after meeting in US President Joe Biden’s hometown.
The member countries strongly opposed “any destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.” “We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated—one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures,” they said.
Maritime Initiatives
The Quad member countries announced a slew of new initiatives on maritime security including the first-ever interoperability exercise among their coast guards. The newly announced cooperation between the coast guards will be marked by the first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 to “improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, and continuing with further missions in future years across the Indo-Pacific”.
The leaders of the four nations also announced the launch of a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), “to enable our partners in the region to maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behaviour”. India will host the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025.
They also launched a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project, to “pursue shared airlift capacity among our nations and leverage our collective logistics strengths, in order to support civilian response to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific region”. Yet another new initiative on maritime security was Quad maritime legal dialogue to “support efforts to uphold the rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.
‘Working Together’
The grouping also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Pacific island countries to address shared challenges and aspirations. In a joint statement, they expressed strong support for regional institutions, particularly the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and welcomed Tonga’s leadership as the current PIF Chair for 2024-2025.
The leaders highlighted their endorsement of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and emphasized their intention to prioritize Pacific concerns, including climate action, ocean health, resilient infrastructure, maritime security, and financial integrity. They acknowledged climate change as the greatest threat to the livelihoods and security of Pacific peoples, praising the region’s leadership in global climate initiatives.
IORA, South China Sea
The Quad leaders also committed to enhancing cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, supporting the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as the primary forum for addressing regional issues. They recognised India’s leadership in finalizing the IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and expressed gratitude to Sri Lanka for its ongoing chairmanship, looking ahead to India’s chairmanship in 2025.
The statement underscored the importance of international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, in maintaining peace and stability in the maritime domain. The leaders voiced serious concern over tensions in the East and South China Seas, condemning militarization and coercive actions in disputed areas. They denounced the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels and reiterated that maritime disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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