Biden Finally Mentions 'Quad' to Pressure China

Proposing 'Quad' Cooperation in Call with Indian Prime Minister Modi
Expanding Alliance-Level Pressure Ahead of Call with Xi Jinping
Increased Possibility of Pressure on Korean Government to Join Anti-China Coalition

Aircraft carriers and warships from the four 'Quad' countries? the United States, India, Japan, and Australia?conducted the second joint exercise of 'Malabar 2020' last year in the northern Arabian Sea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House announced that U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned the 'Quad' during a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On the 8th (local time), the White House disclosed the call between the two leaders, stating, "President Biden and Prime Minister Modi agreed on a free and open Indo-Pacific policy that includes freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and strengthening regional power based on the Quad."

President Biden had previously spoken with the leaders of Japan and Australia, both Quad member countries, but this was the first time he explicitly mentioned the term 'Quad.' Earlier, Secretary of State Tony Blinken emphasized the importance of the Quad during a call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

The Quad is an anti-China coalition launched by the U.S. including Japan, Australia, and India to counter China.

President Biden has repeatedly expressed caution toward China, prioritizing calls with Quad member countries and allies such as South Korea over Chinese President Xi Jinping. This move is interpreted as part of the Biden administration's diplomatic and security policy framework to pressure China through alliances.

Japanese media recently reported that the U.S. is pushing for a Quad summit.

Since last year, the U.S. has shown intentions to expand the Quad into an Asian regional security system similar to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). To this end, there have been calls to include South Korea, Vietnam, and others to expand the Quad into a 'Quad Plus.'

In an interview with CBC aired a day earlier, President Biden stated, "President Xi is not democratic," and added, "If the opportunity arises, I will speak with him," indicating a priority on communication with allies.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also stated at a daily briefing that China has been an important topic in President Biden's calls with allies in Asia and Europe since taking office.

Psaki explained that President Biden has not yet spoken with President Xi because "the strategy is to engage with allies first and consult with Congress."

With the U.S. officially mentioning the Quad in leader-level communications, the possibility of increased pressure on the Moon Jae-in administration regarding Quad expansion cannot be ruled out.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Council (NSC) Advisor, recently expressed in a lecture his view to inherit and develop the form and operation of the Quad conceived during the Trump administration, stating that "(the Quad) will be the fundamental foundation for establishing U.S. substantive policy in the Pacific region."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.