Quad seeks free & open Indo-Pacific, pushes back against Chinese assertiveness

Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and support for ASEAN centrality.

The Quad meeting discussed East China Sea and South China Sea, with Japan opposing unilateral force or coercion to change status quo.

Japan expressed grave concerns over export restrictions, including on critical minerals.

The meeting took place amid escalating China-Philippines tensions over a South China Sea flare-up.

Quad foreign ministers met for the second time in 2026, following their May meeting in Delhi; they looked forward to the next Quad Leaders' Summit.