In A First, Quad Upholds 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award Against China

Quad Summit: In a clear and sharp attack on China but without naming it, the Quad on Saturday expressed serious concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas even as the US, India, Australia and Japan, for the first time, upheld the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea as a “significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties”. The arbitral tribunal’s verdict was in favour of the Philippines, and turned down China’s claims over the islands in the South China Sea — including its nine-dash line, recent land reclamation activities, and other activities in Philippine waters — and called it “unlawful”. Like in the case of China, without naming Russia in the joint statement, the four member countries of the grouping said, “In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable.” It said, “We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries.” “Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Wilmington Declaration said. The statement added, “ We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state.” Quad Calls For ‘Sovereign, Viable and Independent’ Palestinian State As Israel continues its indiscriminate bombings in Gaza, killing civilians, including children, the Quad leaders called for a “sovereign, viable and independent Palestinian state” even as they said that they “unequivocally condemn the terror attacks” carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023.