Quad ministers convene to address Indo-Pacific ‘coercion’, climate, Covid

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 (Reuters/BBC): Climate change, Covid and China's "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific top the agenda as foreign ministers of the Quad grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States meet in Melbourne on Friday, with talks also covering an escalating crisis between the West and Russia over Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Australia this week as Washington grapples with a dangerous standoff with Moscow, which has massed some 100,000 troops near Ukraine's border and stoked Western fears of an invasion. Russia denies it has such plans.
The Biden administration wants to show the world its long-term strategic focus remains in the Asia-Pacific and that a major foreign policy crisis in one part of the world does not distract it from key priorities.
Asked by reporters on Friday if confrontation with China in the Indo-Pacific was inevitable, Blinken replied "nothing is inevitable".
"Having said that, I think we share concern that in recent years China has been acting more aggressively at home and more aggressively in the region," he said, before meeting with Quad foreign ministers and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on top of cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, climate change and Covid related issues, the two top diplomats will also be discussing China, North Korea and Ukraine.
"More than one authoritarian regime is presenting itself in the current world climate as a challenge. DPRK (North Korea), China as well and they will be part of our discussions today. We strongly support US leadership on these challenges," she said before a bilateral meeting with Blinken.
"We are going to talk today, I'm sure, about the threats to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine as well," she added.
Britain said the "most dangerous moment" in the West's standoff with Moscow appeared imminent, as Russia held military exercises in Belarus and the Black Sea following the buildup of its forces near Ukraine.
On Thursday, Blinken said Washington was working "24/7" on the Ukraine crisis but reaffirmed US focus on the Indo-Pacific - a region he said would be instrumental in shaping much of 21st century. "It's important that we be present, that we be engaged, that we be leading across this region," he said.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has called on all American citizens remaining in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing increased threats of Russian military action.
Mr Biden said he would not send troops to rescue Americans if Moscow invades Ukraine.
He warned that "things could go crazy quickly" in the region.
Russia has repeatedly denied any plans to invade Ukraine despite massing more than 100,000 troops near the border.
But it has just begun massive military drills with neighbouring Belarus, and Ukraine has accused Russia of blocking its access to the sea.
The Kremlin says it wants to enforce "red lines" to make sure that its former Soviet neighbour does not join Nato.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that Europe faced its biggest security crisis in decades amid the tensions.