US, India to strengthen relations through quad consultations with Japan & Australia

In wake of growing aggression by China on almost all frontiers be it on land or waters, US and India held bilateral 2+2 inter-sessional meeting on Friday and agreed to furr strengn consultation through US-India-Australia-Japan Quadrilateral consultations.  US highlighted importance of India emerging as a  major defence partner and two nations discussed over a range of geopolitical issues.

A press statement by US Department of Defence read, " United States underscored importance of India's status as a Major Defense Partner, growing military-to-military cooperation, and or defence priorities. two sides discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues, including combating COVID-19, counterterrorism, India's membership on UN Security Council, support for good governance and sustainable development in Indo-Pacific region, and efforts to counteract recent destabilising actions in South Asia and broader Indo-Pacific region."

"Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Thompson and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Helvey pledged to continue working with ir Indian counterparts to advance US-India partnership for benefit of both countries, region, and world. y looked forward to preparing for US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year," Defence Department said.

Indian delegation was led jointly Vani Rao, Joint Secretary (Americas) in Ministry of External Affairs and Somnath Ghosh, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in Ministry of Defence. US delegation was led jointly by Dean Thompson, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in US Department of State and David Helvey, Acting Assistant Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs in US Department of Defense.

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China’s aggression

Cooperation of Quad becomes important with growing aggression of China on all border regions such as encroachment along lines of LAC with India and its aggression in international waters of South China Sea in Indo-Pacific. re have been two serious conflicts with India in Ladakh region, first one occurred in June when 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred, but in a befitting response inflicted massive dam to Chinese Army. second flare-up occured at end of August when China tried to unilaterally change status quo but its attempt was foiled by India by occupying strategic heights and pushing m backwards.

Moreover, Chinese aggression in Indo-Pacific has also been strongly opposed by US, India, Australia, Japan and ASEAN countries.

Besides border disputes, China has also caused serious human rights violations in Hong Kong by imposing draconian National Security Law which threatens automy of city and China has also attempted to change demography of Xinjiang Province with ethnic cleansing of Uighur Muslims for which world is condemning China for se gross human rights violations.

(With ANI inputs)

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