Luo Bi’o Hosting Quadrilateral Talks, Promises Joint Response to CCP Threat

On Tuesday, Marco Rubio, who was sworn in as the US Secretary of State on his first day in office, met with counterparts from Japan, India, and Australia to hold a “Quad” meeting, clearly stating that the United States is committed to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to a statement released by the State Department regarding Rubio’s meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, they discussed plans to deepen bilateral relations during the Trump administration, as well as how the US and Japan can jointly address ongoing threats in the Indo-Pacific region and globally, including collaborating to counter China’s destabilizing behavior.

The statement mentioned concerns about North Korea and Russia’s cooperation in political and security matters, as well as China’s support for Russia’s defense industry base. Rubio emphasized the US’s steadfast commitment to the US-Japan alliance, calling it the cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The “Quad” meeting is a major strategic mechanism aimed at countering China’s growing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

Taro Kono mentioned in an interview with Nikkei Asia on Wednesday in Washington that Rubio pointed out during the meeting that addressing China is a major priority in the region, but also stressed that the establishment of the Quadrilateral mechanism is not targeting any specific country as an adversary.

Rubio, a former US Senator, is considered to have a deep understanding of Asian affairs. Kono praised him, saying, “He understands Japan well and demonstrates a firm belief in the importance of the US-Japan alliance.”

During the US-Japan Foreign Ministers meeting on Tuesday, Kono conveyed Japan’s policy toward China to the US Secretary of State, emphasizing that Asian neighbors should strengthen “reciprocal relationships based on common strategic interests.”

According to reports from the Associated Press, the timing of the meeting on Tuesday – on the first day of the Trump administration and just hours after Rubio was sworn in as the top US diplomat – indicates that this issue will continue to be a priority for the Trump administration.

Furthermore, the joint statement released after the meeting indicated that the new Quad summit is expected to be held in India this year, continuing the trend of elevating the talks from the foreign minister level to the leaders’ level during the Biden administration.