QUAD eyes on Chinese illegal fishing in Indo-Pacific
22 May, 2022 | Pravina Srivastava
China is also concerned about the possibility of South Korea joining the Quad
The Quadrilateral Security Alliance (Quad) plans to create a satellite-based marine security programme to combat China’s illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quad nations will be able to keep an eye on China and monitor unlawful fishing even when fishing boats have shut off their transponders thanks to the satellite-based system.
The top leaders of the four countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, freshly elected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, will hold talks ahead of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on May 24.
Economic and security interests of the Quad members will span the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Quad countries are likely to launch a satellite-based maritime initiative in the Indo-Pacific area to combat illegal fishing.
The launch is intended to put a halt to China’s claimed illicit fishing, as the communist country is said to be responsible for 95% of all unlawful fishing in the Indo-Pacific.
Quad is a gathering of countries that share key ideals of democracy, pluralism, and market economy, and its firms are primarily focused on supporting Indo-Pacific peace, stability, and prosperity.
Quad group was formed to keep the strategic and crucial sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific area free of influence, while another major goal of the alliance is to provide financial assistance to Indo-Pacific debtor states.
China has frequently chastised the security pact, which it regards as a tool for restraining its worldwide rise. The country has accused the group of working against its best interests.
China is also concerned about the possibility of South Korea joining the Quad.
On May 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to Tokyo for the Quad Leaders’ Summit, where he will be joined by his Japanese and Australian counterparts, as well as US President Joe Biden. The leaders will assess the status of Quad initiatives and working groups, propose new areas of collaboration, and offer strategic direction and vision for future collaborations.