Jake Sanders
On his inaugural day as Secretary of State, Marco Rubio issued a warning alongside Japan, India, and Australia against coercive actions in Asia, seemingly directed at China over its maritime activities. Rubio met with his counterparts from the Quad in Washington, just after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, where he pledged to counter China’s influence. In a joint statement, the four nations committed to fostering a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law, democratic principles, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
They condemned any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force. The ministers also reaffirmed plans for a Quad summit in India, marking a potential early visit by Trump to the region. Rubio held individual discussions with each counterpart, notably addressing North Korea and China’s disruptive actions with Japan’s Foreign Minister. He also reiterated his commitment to deter Chinese aggression towards Taiwan and to uphold Trump’s “America First” policies, emphasizing the importance of aligning national interests.
