Quad foreign ministers express grave concern over economic coercion

Foreign ministers from the United States, India, Japan and Australia on Saturday jointly raised serious concerns about “economic coercion,” including export curbs and practices that lead to overproduction, in veiled criticism of China.The meeting brought together EAM Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. It was the third Quad foreign ministers' meeting of 2026, following earlier gatherings in May and July. Japan's Foreign Ministry said the ministers held candid discussions on Indo-Pacific developments and aligned their perspectives on the regional situation.
In a joint statement after their meeting in Atlanta, the Quad foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to building reliable and open global supply chains and trusted and resilient infrastructure. The ministers recognised the importance of critical sea lanes, the uninterrupted flow of commerce, energy security, and the unhindered passage and safety of maritime crews and vessels without the imposition of tolls.They also reiterated the absolute necessity to protect and preserve navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in accordance with international law as reflected in UNCLOS. The joint release described as 'grave concerns regarding economic coercion, including through arbitrary export restrictions.'
Motegi opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, a position reflecting Japan's longstanding territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. The Quad joint release did not explicitly name China, but the context makes the reference clear. Moves are underway to convene a Quad Leaders’ Summit, hosted by US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN-East Asian Summits in mid-November.