Quad Summit: Let’s Increase Cooperation among Democracies

Published in Yomiuri Shimbun
(Japan) on 26 September 2021
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Max Guerrera-Sapone. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
There is great significance in the fact that democratic countries who share common values have affirmed their intent to increase cooperation in a wide range of areas to tackle the challenges facing the international community.

A summit of the leaders of Japan, America, Australia and India, known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, was held in Washington, D.C. This was the first face-to-face meeting of the group, following an online conference held in March. It is planned that these meetings will be held on a regular basis from now on.

At the start of the summit, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that the in-person meeting “demonstrated the four countries’ strong solidarity and unshakeable commitment to their common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The joint statement issued at the summit emphasized the importance of supporting developing countries to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and develop their infrastructure. It also specified that the Quad would expand cooperation in development of 5G networks, utilization of space and cyberdefense.

China is increasing its economic and technological influence and has continued to take hegemonic actions. To maintain the rules-based liberal world order, the cooperation of the four countries of the Quad is essential. Concrete action must be taken to implement the points agreed to by the leaders of the Quad.

The continued leak of advanced technology, like semiconductors, and the increasing reliance on China for critical materials presents a great security risk. It is praiseworthy that the four leaders agreed to concentrate on the establishment of a secure supply chain.

In the joint statement, the four countries expressed their concern over “challenges to the rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas.” It is necessary to once again convey to China that unilateral attempts to change the status quo will not be accepted.

In the run-up to the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration established a new security cooperation framework between America, Australia and Britain, known as AUKUS. It is necessary for Japan to also think about ways to increase cooperation in such areas as intelligence.

Biden is considering holding his first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during next month’s Group of 20 summit. Dealing with China after consulting with America's allies and other friendly countries is an appropriate course of action.

North Korea, China and Russia have increased military provocations of Japan following Suga’s announcement that he intends to step down. Suga should work to ensure a seamless transition of power, so as to avoid giving the false impression that Japan has become inward-looking.


 国際社会が直面している課題について、基本的価値観を共有する民主主義国が、幅広い分野で協力を深めていくことを確認した意義は大きい。

 日米豪印4か国の協力枠組み「クアッド」の首脳会談が、米ワシントンで開かれた。3月のオンライン会談に続き、初めての対面による開催である。今後、定例化するという。

 菅首相は冒頭で、対面での会談について「4か国の強い結束と自由で開かれたインド太平洋という共通のビジョンへの揺るぎない確約を示すものだ」と語った。

 共同声明では、新型コロナウイルス対策やインフラ整備で途上国を支援することを強調した。高速・大容量通信規格「5G」の展開、宇宙利用、サイバー防衛などでも協力を拡大すると明記した。

 中国は、経済や先端技術分野で影響力を強め、覇権主義的な行動を続けている。ルールに基づく自由な秩序を維持するためには、4か国の連携強化が不可欠だ。

 首脳の合意を踏まえ、具体的な協力を重ねなければならない。

 3月の会談では、コロナワクチンを共同で途上国に供与することで合意したが、インドの感染爆発で足踏みしている。改めて仕切り直して、東南アジア各国などでの感染防止に努力してほしい。

 経済安全保障分野でも、さらに連携を進めたい。

 半導体をはじめとした先端技術が流出したり、重要物資について中国への依存度が高まったりすれば、安保上のリスクとなる。今回、「安全な供給網」を確保する方針で一致したことは評価できる。

 共同声明では、東シナ海と南シナ海における「ルールに基づく海洋秩序に対する挑戦」に懸念を表明した。中国に対し、一方的な現状変更の試みは容認できないと繰り返し伝えていくべきだ。

 バイデン米政権は4か国首脳会談に先立ち、米英豪による新たな安全保障協力の枠組み「オーカス」を創設した。日本も、情報分野などでの協力のあり方を考えていく必要がある。

 バイデン大統領は来月のG20(主要20か国・地域)首脳会議の際、対面による初の米中首脳会談を検討しているという。同盟国や友好国と調整したうえで中国に対処する方針は妥当である。

 菅首相が退陣を表明した後、北朝鮮や中国、ロシアが軍事的な挑発を強めている。首相は、日本が内向きになっているという誤解を与えないよう、切れ目のない政権移行に努めてもらいたい。
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