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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed G7 leaders' calls for China to rein in its ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region, arguing Australia has been subjected to Chinese aggression.
Key points:
- Mr Albanese said the Quad partners were committed to working to enhance peace, security and stability in the region
- The meeting had to be moved from Sydney to Japan to allow Mr Biden to return to Washington
- The prime minister dismissed the idea that the fractious US political system was undermining the US-Australia alliance
The G7 leaders issued a strong statement, saying members had "serious concerns" about China's activities in the East and South China Seas.
"We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," the leaders said.
Mr Albanese would not repeat the phrase when questioned on the matter, but said it was in lock step with Australia's position.
"We have said for some time that China's activity — and we've expressed concerns for ourselves as well, the chaffing of one of our aircraft, the other activity that we've seen — has provided concern," he said.
"What we need to do is to make sure that we work in a way that enhances peace, security and stability in the region.
"We very clearly support the status quo when it comes to the Taiwan Straits, and that is Australia's position — we've consistently stated it."
Saturday night, the Quad leaders from Australia, United States, Japan and India met on the sidelines of the G7 summit, after next week's planned meeting at the Sydney Opera House was cancelled.
US President Joe Biden had been planning on travelling from Japan to Australia, with a stop over in Papua New Guinea, but was forced to cut short his overseas trip due to ongoing negotiations with Congress about the US debt ceiling.
"I think it was really important that the Quad leaders' meeting go ahead," Mr Albanese said.
"And it showed that we were an action-based forum, the fact that we were prepared to change to achieve outcomes."
He dismissed questions about whether the fractious US political system, causing the rescheduling, was undermining Mr Biden's ability to be a reliable partner to countries such as Australia.
"President Biden can't have done more than what we've done to put this together over the last few days, to have a Quad leaders' meeting here," the prime ,inister said.
"We delayed the G7 dinner last night … that shows what a priority it was.
"That delay, that meant that the dinner went towards midnight – I'm not sure what time it ended, I'm sure it was late – not one country complained … everyone accepted that it was an important-enough organisation and body for that to occur.
"And that says a lot about not just the way that the United States and Japan, India and Australia see the Quad, that said a lot about the way that the G7, the world's largest seven democracies, see the Quad as well."
Mr Biden thanked members of the Quad alliance for their understanding on the need to reschedule.
"I think a great deal of the future of our world is going to be written here in the Indo Pacific and together I think we're going to continue to ensure that the future provides more opportunity, prosperity, and stability than anything else," Mr Biden said during the meeting.
"So I want to thank you again for your strong partnership and friendship, and I apologise again for the change in plans."
Quad vision one of co-operation
Saturday's vision statement of the Quad — whose leaders first met in a virtual format in March 2021 and held face-to-face talks in the US in September 2021 — said the group would build on past examples of co-operation.
"Recently, in our response to the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we joined together to expand safe, affordable and effective vaccine production and equitable access," it said.
"The Indo-Pacific's key challenges of health security, rapidly changing technology, the grave threat of climate change and the strategic challenges facing the region, summon us to act with renewed purpose."
Mr Albanese is due to return to Australia on Sunday.
Zelenskyy star arrival at G7
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the star arrival of the G7 summit, having flown in on Saturday on a French government jet.
He wasted no time in meeting key allies in his war against Russian invaders; French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Olaf Sholz.
Mr Zelenskyy also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hasn't publicly condemned Russia. India has a historic friendship with Moscow, and is its biggest buyer of Russian military hardware.
"I wish to assure you that India and I, in my personal capacity, will do whatever is possible to find a solution to this [conflict]," Mr Modi said.
Mr Zelenskyy's arrival came after the United States announced it would allow the supply of F-16 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air defences, and would train Ukranian pilots to fly them.
Mr Albanese said Australia would "continue to provide support" to Ukraine, which has included Bushmaster vehicles, but did not commit to providing Hawkei light protected vehicles, despite numerous requests from Ukraine.
"We call upon Russia to withdraw, Russia to stop this," Mr Albanese said.
"It can stop tomorrow.
"We liaise with our Ukrainian friends and we have a constant monitoring on what we can do."
Russia has hinted at the possible use of nuclear weapons in its war against Ukraine. Mr Zelenskyy's visit to Hiroshima, the first city to suffer a nuclear attack in the final days of the second world war, carries powerful symbolism.
"Everyone at the G7 is concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine," Mr Albanese said.
ABC/AAP