Quad Summit to be Held for the First Time on the 12th... US-Led Anti-China Alliance Emerges

Possibility of South Korea Quad Plus Pressure Trigger
US-China High-Level Talks Underway
North Korea Policy Also Discussed at Quad Meeting
Senior Official: "US North Korea Policy May Be Released as Early as Next Month"

Last year's Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondents Baek Jong-min and Lee Hyun-woo] On the 12th, the first Quad summit, a US-led anti-China security alliance, will be held. This meeting is expected to mark the beginning of intensified pressure on China by the Joe Biden administration, and it is also reported that the North Korean issue will be discussed during the meeting.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced at a regular briefing on the 9th (local time) that President Biden will attend a virtual meeting with the leaders of the Quad member countries on the 12th. Psaki explained that during this meeting, President Biden will demonstrate the importance he places on allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

The attendees of this meeting include President Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

This will be the first summit meeting of the four Quad countries. Even during the Trump administration, which led the Quad, such a summit was not held. The reason is interpreted as a consensus among the participating countries on the need to contain China in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Biden recently identified China as the core of US diplomatic and security policy through a provisional national security directive, signaling an acceleration of the anti-China coalition. While the Biden administration has largely opposed the foreign policy stance of former President Trump, it has expressed its intention to inherit and develop the Quad as the foundation of its Indo-Pacific policy.

Along with the Quad summit, pressure for South Korea to join the ‘Quad Plus’ is also expected to become more visible. At the briefing that day, State Department spokesperson Ned Price, when asked about South Korea’s participation in the Quad and its expanded role in the Indo-Pacific region, said, "There is nothing to predict or announce," but mentioned, "South Korea is an ally that shares many interests, including in the Indo-Pacific."

The Biden administration maintains the position of expanding the Quad into the Quad Plus, following the Trump administration. In US circles, countries such as South Korea, New Zealand, and Vietnam are being mentioned as potential participants if the Quad expands to the Quad Plus.

Price also stated, "We share many interests, including challenges posed by North Korea and a free and open Indo-Pacific," suggesting that the North Korean issue could be linked to the Quad. A major foreign media outlet cited sources saying that the North Korean issue is expected to be addressed at the Quad summit. This could also be interpreted as an attempt to use North Korea as a means to bring South Korea into the Quad Plus.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported, citing sources, that the US and China are discussing holding a high-level meeting and are continuing behind-the-scenes contacts at the working level. The expected location for the talks between the two countries is Alaska.

If realized, this would be the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the Biden administration took office. SCMP reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to attend, and on the Chinese side, Politburo member Yang Jiechi, responsible for foreign affairs in the Communist Party, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi may participate in a ministerial-level meeting.

The US is also reportedly close to completing a review of its North Korea policy. Major foreign media reported that a senior US government official said the US government is conducting a very intensive strategic review on North Korea and may complete it as early as next month.

The official explained that most of those involved in the North Korea policy review have experience in diplomatic negotiations with North Korea since the 1990s, and said, "It is expected that the (North Korea strategy review) will be conducted based on past experience."

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