U.S. Calls Quad Central to Indo-Pacific Strategy
Washington — The Trump administration is strengthening alliances, expanding cooperation with India through the Quad and seeking to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
Michael G. DeSombre, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific that the region was of “vital strategic importance” to the United States.
“Our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific is unwavering,” DeSombre said.
He said the administration’s strategy was based on “strengthening alliances and deepening relations with the quad and trilateral cooperation with Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, and through our key partnerships such as Aukus”.
Washington is also focused on preserving peace across the Taiwan Strait, protecting freedom of navigation, strengthening maritime law enforcement and reducing dependence on China for critical minerals, DeSombre said.
“Our long standing policy on Taiwan has not changed,” he said, adding that the policy remained guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiques and the six assurances.
Rep. Young Kim, who chaired the hearing, said the United States must work with its allies and partners to protect freedom of navigation and uphold international law in the South China Sea.
Kim said Beijing’s actions extended beyond Taiwan and accused China of seeking to dominate international waters.
DeSombre described Chinese activity in the South China Sea as an issue of “utmost concern” to the United States. He said Washington was working with allies and partners to strengthen deterrence along the first island chain and preserve regional peace and stability.
Rep. Ami Bera, the subcommittee’s ranking member, described the Indo-Pacific as “the most vibrant, complicated and consequential region” as the United States confronts growing competition from China.
Bera also emphasized India’s importance in the Quad, saying the country played a critical regional role through the grouping with the United States, Japan and Australia.
DeSombre said the United States was advancing new areas of cooperation within the Quad. Washington was implementing the vision established by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Quad counterparts in New Delhi through work on “critical minerals, maritime security, infrastructure development, energy security and emerging technologies”.
The United States is also working with allies and partners to diversify supplies of minerals essential to manufacturing and reduce dependence on China, DeSombre said.
Vietnam has substantial mineral resources, but many remain unmapped, he said. Washington hopes to help Vietnam locate and assess those resources so it can become part of a supply chain “that doesn’t run through China”.
Rep. Joaquin Castro raised concerns about China’s coercive use of rare earth minerals against Japan and other countries. DeSombre said Washington was “laser focus” on eliminating that dependency for the United States and its allies. (Source: IANS)
