NEW DELHI — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged India’s Narendra Modi on Saturday to take a tougher line on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but a joint statement after talks in Delhi fell short of condemning Moscow’s actions. Earlier this month in a four-way call, the other Quad leaders — Kishida, US President Joe Biden and Australia’s Scott Morrison — also failed to win the Indian premier over to their position on Ukraine. A joint Quad statement at the time said they “discussed the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and assessed its broader implications” — without any condemnation of Moscow. A separate Indian readout pointedly underlined that the alliance must remain focused on its “core objective… in the Indo-Pacific region” of promoting peace, stability and prosperity. InvestmentWith reference to China’s growing assertiveness — seen as the main concern of the Quad — Kishida and Modi “reaffirmed their common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, free from coercion”.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 20, 2022 03:57 UTC