Japanese Government: "No Plans to Hold 'Quad' Summit at This Time"

▲Kato Katsunobu, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The Japanese government has stated that there are no plans to hold a Quad (United States, Japan, Australia, India) summit meeting.

On this day, Kato Katsunobu, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson for the Japanese government, responded at a regular press conference to a request for confirmation regarding Japanese media reports that U.S. President Joe Biden is considering holding a Quad summit, saying, "As of now, I understand that there are no plans to hold a summit meeting among the leaders of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India."

However, Secretary Kato emphasized the significance of Quad cooperation, stating, "From Japan's perspective, we will move forward with the goal of realizing a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' by deepening connections with more countries in various opportunities, including the United States, Japan, Australia, and India."

Earlier on the 7th, Japanese media reported that the Biden administration is pushing for an online Quad summit, and if the summit is realized, cooperation for the realization of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" would be on the agenda.

Although Quad foreign ministers' meetings were held twice, once in September 2019 in New York, USA, and last October in Tokyo, Japan, a summit meeting has never been held.

China, which shows strong wariness toward the cohesion of the Quad, is likely to react strongly if the first summit meeting is decided.

Meanwhile, Secretary Kato stated, "On the 6th and 7th, vessels belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard intruded into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyu Islands), and we lodged a stern protest with the Chinese side."

He criticized China, saying, "It is very regrettable and absolutely unacceptable."

The Senkaku Islands, which belong to Okinawa Prefecture under Japanese administrative divisions, are a disputed territory between China and Japan.

The Chinese Coast Guard Law, which came into effect on the 1st, stipulates that "all necessary measures, including the use of weapons," can be taken against foreign vessels infringing on China's sovereignty and jurisdiction at sea.

Japan views the Coast Guard Law, which permits the use of weapons by coast guard vessels, as targeting the Senkaku Islands.

Since China's declaration of nationalization of the Senkaku Islands in September 2012, China has frequently sent government vessels into the waters around the Senkaku Islands as a means to undermine Japan's effective control.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.