Beijing’s Actions Have ‘Potential to Undermine’ CCP Virus Recovery in Indo-Pacific

From left to right, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pose for a picture before a four Indo-Pacific nations' foreign ministers meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Nicolas Datiche/Pool Photo via AP

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said on Tuesday that enhanced Indo-Pacific cooperation was vital for recovering from the CCP virus pandemic. Amid Beijing’s aggressive expansion in the region, the four regional partners met to promote a strategic balance and work to support a region of resilient and sovereign states that engage each other based on “rules, norms, and international law.”