Blinken After Quad Meeting: China Confrontation 'Not Inevitable'

Following a meeting of foreign ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (or 'Quad'), formed by Australia, India, Japan, and the United States - press pack questions them on the group's stance on Ukraine, the Burmese junta, and the group's role in Indo-Pacific security.

• On Ukraine, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken states that Russia will face "massive consqeuences" if it invades Ukraine. Australian FM Marise Payne states that "I have reiterated our very deep concerns about Russia's military build-up on Ukraine's border. We will continue to support our allies." Indian FM S. Jaishankar does not issue comments as foreceful as his US, Australian, or Japanese counterparts.
• During the meeting, Blinken stated that confrontation between the Quad nations and China "is not inevitable". Payne says that the joint Russia-China statement following the meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin was "concerning".
• On Myanmar, all ministers state support for ASEAN 5-point consensus. Blinken says Biden will focus on issue of the junta when he hosts ASEAN leaders in Washington, D.C. Jaishankar states that Myanmar has an immediate land border with India so for the Modi gov't "...our specific concerns guide us including insurgency, Covid, humanitarian situation....We don't follow a policy of national sanctions."