Biden Administration's First Quad Meeting Confirms Unity on China Response

Quad Succession Confirmed Under Biden Administration Following Trump Government
Annual Regularization of Quad Foreign Ministers' Meetings
No Mention of Quad Summit or Quad Plus

Indian military fighter jets participating in the 'Quad' four-nation joint maritime exercise [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Participants of the first Quad foreign ministers' meeting held since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration?comprising the United States, Japan, India, and Australia?reached a consensus on blocking China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region. This officially signals the continuation of the strategy to pressure China through the Quad, following the Trump administration.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, announced the results of the virtual meeting held on the 18th (local time), attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, and foreign ministers from the four countries.

The State Department stated that the ministers confirmed a commitment to hold Quad meetings at least once a year at the ministerial level, with regular meetings at senior and working levels. There was no mention of the much-anticipated Quad summit. The expansion to include countries such as South Korea under a 'Quad Plus' framework was also not included.

The State Department further conveyed that the meeting participants agreed on strengthening cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including freedom of navigation and territorial integrity.

The four foreign ministers declared their support for the 'ASEAN Centrality' advocated by the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states along the Indo-Pacific coast.

The ministers also emphasized the need to restore Myanmar's democratically elected government and to strengthen democratic resilience across the broader region.

This statement is interpreted as an intention by the United States to check China's efforts to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region and within ASEAN.

The Biden administration, while largely rejecting former President Donald Trump's foreign policy stance, has expressed its intention to continue the Quad framework.

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