India, July 22 -- The Quad emphasised the need for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region against the backdrop of fresh tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, as the foreign ministers of India, Australia, Japan and the US met in Manila on Wednesday to discuss maritime security and regional challenges.

This was the second meeting of Quad foreign ministers since May and came two days after a confrontation between vessels of the Philippines and China in the South China Sea left a Filipino sailor injured. India last week reiterated its support for a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal in favour of the Philippines that rejected China's expansive territorial claims over the South China Sea.

A joint sta...