Quad leaders meet in Biden’s hometown amid growing competition from China | Political Affairs

Joe Biden says the alliance between the US, Australia, India and Japan is ‘here to stay’, promising to deepen the relationship.

The leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the United States are meeting in the hometown of US President Joe Biden as the countries push to strengthen the Quad alliance amid growing competition with China.

Biden welcomed his colleagues in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday at the group’s annual conference, where he previewed steps to deepen the alliance, including the launch of a new cooperation framework between the four countries’ security forces.

“While challenges will come, the world will change … the Quad is here to stay,” Biden said.

The Quad, officially known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, was first launched in 2007 but quickly disbanded amid Chinese protests.

The alliance was renewed in 2017, and when Biden took office in 2021, he moved to lift it as the US sought to curb China’s influence in the Asia Pacific.

The group held its first summit of leaders around 2021, and a year later, Biden hosted the heads of state of Australia, India and Japan at the White House.

Last year, the Quad met in Hiroshima, the hometown of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

On Saturday, the leaders did not mention China in their opening remarks. But they present themselves as democratic leaders and defenders of international norms in the Asia Pacific.

“We all support the international order based on rules, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and the peaceful resolution of all conflicts,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“A free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific is our highest priority and the shared commitment we have together.”

India has been accused of targeting international dissidents, including the US and Canada, in violation of sovereignty.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has faced mounting criticism for its unconditional support for Israel despite documented abuses of its US counterpart throughout the Middle East.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also emphasized the importance of national sovereignty in his remarks in Delaware.

“The promise in the region depends on continued peace and stability and the wise management of strategic competition and conflicts,” Albanese said.

“Partnerships like the Quad are important, they give us a way to discuss shared responsibilities and goals.”

While the Biden administration has focused on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza in the foreign policy file, top American leaders have also said that the top priority of the country’s foreign policy is the intense rivalry with China.

Relations between Beijing and Washington have been strained by a number of disputes in recent years, including trade issues, the status of Taiwan, claims in the South China Sea and allegations of espionage and cyber attacks.

The US has also warned China against providing military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell called the showdown with China the “biggest challenge” in US history – a comment criticized by Beijing.

“China urges the US to abandon the Cold War and zero-sum summary thinking, stop spreading the ‘China threat’ story, and stop misrepresenting China’s intentions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Friday.