Wed Sep 25 07:41:02 UTC 2024: ## Quad Summit Sparks Tensions as China Labels Group a US Tool for Hegemony

**WASHINGTON/BEIJING** – The recent Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summit in Delaware has reignited tensions with China, who has accused the grouping of being a U.S. tool to contain its influence and perpetuate American hegemony.

During the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic stating that China is “behaving aggressively” in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically mentioning actions in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, swiftly responded, calling the Quad a U.S. strategy to “patch up forces to exclude and contain China.” He accused the U.S. of being obsessed with maintaining its supremacy and of “lying through its teeth” by claiming the Quad doesn’t target China.

The Quad, comprised of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, was re-established in 2017 after being dormant for a decade. China has consistently viewed the group as an attempt to create an Asian NATO, a claim repeatedly denied by the U.S. and other Quad members.

While the Quad summit’s final statement didn’t mention China by name, it expressed concern over China’s actions in the South China Sea, specifically criticizing its militarization of disputed territories and coercive maneuvers. It also called for the 2016 Arbitral Award, which rejected China’s claims in the region, to be the basis for resolving maritime disputes.

However, the summit lacked concrete actions on maritime security, prompting analysts to speculate that it was a “missed opportunity” to set a firm stance against China. Experts noted that the upcoming U.S. and Australian elections, as well as the possibility of a leadership change in Japan, may have influenced the decision to avoid making substantial commitments.

Despite the lack of concrete action, the Quad reiterated its commitment to remaining a force in the Indo-Pacific region. The next Quad foreign ministers’ meeting will be hosted by the U.S. in 2025, followed by the next leaders’ summit in India the same year.

Analysts argue that the Quad needs to become more assertive in its defense and security posture to effectively counter China’s assertive behavior in the region. They warn that failure to do so could lead to the group’s influence diminishing and China viewing it with contempt.

While there have been proposals to expand the Quad’s dialogue mechanism to include other nations, experts argue that such an expansion could slow down decision-making. However, ad hoc cooperation with other countries in a “Quad Plus” format may be a possibility in the future.

The latest developments highlight the growing tension between the U.S. and its allies and China, which continues to be a major factor in the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region.

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