DELAWARE, USA: US President Joe Biden made candid remarks during the Quad summit, stating that China is “testing us all across the region” with its increasingly aggressive tactics in areas like the South China Sea, East China Sea, South Asia, and the Taiwan Straits. These comments, caught on a hot mic during discussions with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, highlighted China’s expanding influence and security threats in the Indo-Pacific.
Biden’s remarks were unplanned and overshadowed the summit’s carefully worded joint statement, which avoided directly mentioning China. Instead, the official declaration voiced strong opposition to “destabilizing or unilateral actions” aimed at altering the status quo through force, signaling concerns over China’s actions. The Quad leaders also condemned missile launches in the region, indirectly referencing North Korea.
The meeting, held near Biden’s hometown in Delaware, focused on strengthening cooperation between the US, Australia, Japan, and India. Key initiatives, such as the ‘Quad Cancer Moonshot,’ aimed at reducing cancer rates in the region, were also announced.
Biden’s off-the-cuff remarks underscored the tension between the Quad’s strategic goals and China’s growing influence. The summit’s broader goal was to emphasize that, despite geopolitical shifts or US election outcomes, the Quad would remain a strong regional player.
