PM Modi with Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi (ANI photo)
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed their commitment to an early convening of the next Quad Leaders’ Summit and underlined the importance of ensuring unimpeded freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement.With both countries heavily dependent on the critical maritime chokepoint for energy supplies, Modi and Takaichi also registered their opposition to any restrictive measures hampering the movement of commercial vessels. Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation on strategic petroleum reserves, with Takaichi affirming her support for India’s membership of the International Energy Agency (IEA).Significantly for India, the statement, unlike the one issued after the Tokyo summit last year, named Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism against India.”The two Prime Ministers unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism from Pakistan,” said the joint statement, while strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and seeking action against Pakistan-based groups like Jaish and Lashkar.India too backed Japan’s position on the East China Sea and South China Sea, with the leaders reiterating their strong opposition to any unilateral action that endangers freedom of navigation and overflight and attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. “They shared their serious concerns over the growing militarisation of disputed features. They reaffirmed that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS,” said the joint statement. According to diplomatic sources, the leaders also discussed the ongoing diplomatic standoff between China and Japan over the Taiwan issue that has seen Beijing impose export controls on Japanese companies.While President Donald Trump’s China policy has complicated the Quad summit process, India and Japan welcomed the “steady progress” under the Quad framework and reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing practical cooperation.However, official sources admitted there was no clarity yet on the dates and venue for the next summit, even though Japan would like India to host it.
