Sun Sep 15 10:54:00 UTC 2024: ## Quad Nations to Launch Joint Patrols in Indo-Pacific to Counter Illegal Fishing

**Washington, D.C.** – The United States, Japan, Australia, and India, collectively known as the Quad, are set to launch joint patrols to monitor vessels in the Indo-Pacific region, according to diplomatic sources. The move, expected to be announced at a Quad summit next Saturday in Delaware, is the latest effort by the group to counter illegal fishing and assert their presence in waters where China’s influence is growing.

The joint patrols, involving the four nations’ coast guards, are expected to commence next year. The initiative aims to improve interoperability and maintain maritime order based on international law, with members rotating participation.

The planned joint patrols come amidst concerns over Chinese fishing activities in disputed waters of the South China Sea, which have drawn protests from Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines and Indonesia. Japan has also expressed concern over illegal activities by Chinese vessels in its surrounding waters.

The Quad summit will also witness agreements on other areas of cooperation, including:

* **Deployment of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) infrastructure in the Pacific:** This initiative seeks to mitigate supply chain risks by avoiding reliance on specific companies’ technology, particularly those with ties to China.
* **Collaboration on tackling cervical cancer:** Building on their joint efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quad members plan to launch initiatives to address this major health concern.
* **Support for farmers through AI and other technologies:** The group will cooperate to enhance agricultural practices and promote food security in the region.
* **First-ever Quad meeting of commerce and industry ministers:** This meeting aims to foster deeper economic cooperation between the four nations.

The Quad summit, likely the last for outgoing leaders Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida, will serve as a platform to solidify the group’s expanding cooperation across successive governments. The Biden administration has been pushing to elevate and institutionalize the Quad, seen as a counter to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad, originally formed in 2004 in response to the Indian Ocean tsunami, has seen a revival in recent years, with a growing focus on promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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