WASHINGTON – President Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to discuss regional security issues surrounding China and the Myanmar riots, the White House said.
The two leaders agreed to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, “including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad,” the White House said in a statement on the appeal. -se to the four -national group that includes Japan and Australia.
Although China was not mentioned by the White House, Chinese patrols raised around Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea last year led democracies to increased cooperation. The quad was partially reformed in 2017 to address growing China.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Indian government said in a statement that the leaders “discussed at length the regional developments and the wider geo-political context” and “reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based and free international order,” open and inclusive Indo-Pacific Region. ”
Mr Biden and Mr Modi also discussed the Myanmar upheaval, as well as Covid-19 and climate change, according to the White House.